BEST AND BRIGHTEST: She's always giving life a good run

TO OUR READERS: This is one in a series of stories featuring The Gazette's Best and Brightest high school seniors, class of 2009.

That cold morning, Skylar Anderson stepped into her favorite pink shorts and lucky socks, both stained with sweat from years of being a runner.

"Whether you win or lose, you run because it's what you love to do and you feel good for it," said Anderson, who competed for two seasons on Palmer High School's cross-country team.

This would be her first sprint in a year.

For two years, she ran just about every day until a debilitating autoimmune disease halted it. The lifelong illness often causes joint and muscle pains daily, and running would cause flare-ups. Doctors suggested Anderson swap running for low-impact activities such as walking.

She followed their orders — for a while.

"I was determined to prove the doctors wrong," she said. "Running was and is motivated by my own passion. I had to run."

So during Christmas break in 2008, she hoped her pink shorts and lucky socks would help push her along a trail in Monument Valley Park.

She took a single skip before launching into her running pace.

She felt good a mile into it and ran even faster. But then a stabbing pain shot through her head, her abdomen twitched in pain and her vision became blurred.

Moments later, she fell to the ground. She lay there and let the tears fall, while eventually saying to herself again and again, "the disease will not win. It will never win."

In addition to joint and muscle pains, the disease also causes chronic fatigue, no matter how much sleep she gets, which can make it hard to focus on schoolwork.

"These pains make it difficult for her to sit still for long periods of time and also limit her physical activity," family friend Caroline Camley said. "It is amazing she has become an outstanding pianist and student with these obstacles, and her success is a demonstration of her motivation and determination."

Anderson also has 26 food allergies, which is believed to be linked to the autoimmune disease, she said. Foods she can't eat include pizza, French fries and certain fruits and vegetables.

Anderson, 18, isn't willing to let the disease hold her back.

"I could let it, but I don't," she said. "It's not the way to live your life.
If I were to be upset about it all the time, how could I get up and go to school every day and play and teach piano? I'm not going to focus my energy on being sick."

As for running, will she give it another go?

"Yep," she said. "One of these days when I'm feeling good, I'll try it again."

SKYLAR ANDERSON, Palmer High School

Parents: Michael and Kathy Anderson

What's next? Either Oklahoma University or University of Puget Sound to major in piano performance

If you had a million dollars, which philanthropic organization would you form and why?

"I'm one of the biggest greenies here, so I'd save the polar bears in the Arctic. The whole global warming is going to be our demise. I'd set up a refuge for the polar bears."

Other details: Pikes Peak Regional Science and Engineering Fair, 3rd place; Association of Communications, Electronics, Intelligence and Information System Professionals Award; Academic Letter; National Honor Society; Front Range Music Teachers Association Festival Winners, piano, and Composer Showcase Winners Recital, piano