How is it that more people are finding the drive and the
inter strength to overcome obstacles to finish a marathon? May people would tell you that they are driven
to the finish line by a sense of greater good.
The word Marathon and Charity now go hand and hand. Runners are raising more money for charity
then ever before. The numbers as reported in the July issue of Runners World Magazine are staggering at 1.65 billion dollars raised so far.
Just this past weekend it is estimated that over $30 million
dollars was raised by runners at the New York Marathon. This includes the great number of celebrities
who ran for a cause.
People are finding a deeper connection between the sport of
running and the cause. Most would tell
you they run because they can and they run for those that have suffered more
then they will for the 3 to 6 hours it takes them to finish a marathon. The training for a marathon is not a grueling
as a round of chemotherapy.
Team in Training is the largest organization that trains
participants to run marathons, half marathons, triathlons and century bike
rides. They give you organized training,
pay the entrance in the race, and the travel to get there. You raise money for the Leukemia Society and
finish the race. If you have been to a
race lately you have seen all of the people both running and on the sidelines
in Purple. It really is inspirational to
hear a mother tell you thank you for running for her daughter suffering from
Leukemia.
If raising upwards of $3,000 isn’t something that you feel
you can do while raising a family, training for a family and many of times
working full time, there are other options.
Raises dedicated to the cause are out there. Of course my favorite is the National Breast Cancer Marathon held in Jacksonville, FL every February. 100% of the registration fees go to the cause
to Finish Breast Cancer. There is of course the ability to do further
fundraising and it is encouraged, but not required to run the raise and see
millions of spectators who have been impacted by people who have fought Breast
Cancer.
If getting in shape isn’t enough to get you off the couch,
then look for a cause to run for. The
pain is temporary, pride is forever.
