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Dave Martin, a co-chair of the Relay For Life of Linn County, has ran 43 marathons in his lifetime.
Last year, Dave Martin ran marathons at the Relay For Life of UNI, Iowa, Cornell, and Johnson County. All of these marathons were ran within the span of only seven weeks.
The marathon he ran at University of Iowa was only one week after the marathon he ran here at UNI; this was the first time he had ever attempted such a feat.
Now, Dave is attempting his new unknown; kicking off the season running 50 miles at the Relay For Life of UNI on April 11th 2008.
Please read the letter below, written by our own Superhero, Dave Martin.
EVERY ONE OF US HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GET CANCER…
AND THE POTENTIAL TO CURE IT
Dear Team Captains,
As co-chair of the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Linn County I decided to try to use my running to inspire others to join me in this fight against this disease. Last year I ran marathons at Relays at UNI, Iowa U, Cornell and Johnson County in a 7 week span. I want to make it even more of a challenge this year and in doing so I am looking for many of you to step up as well and raise more money for your team to help the Relay For Life of UNI.
I am looking for something that will be quite challenging. I have completed 43 marathons (each 26.2 miles) but until last spring running two marathons just one week apart was an unknown. This time a 50 mile run is the “new unknown”. I will do this at the Relay For Life of UNI on April 11. This seems to me to be, in a small way, something of a parallel to what those hit with cancer face; the unknown, and the anxiety of “how will I get through this?” Yet any pain and concerns I face pale by comparison to what they face. We know cancer does not discriminate, that it picks on anyone and everyone. I feel those of us who have been dealt a fair hand have an obligation and responsibility to help those who have not been as fortunate. My hope is that the fact that I am willing to “walk the walk” or in this case–do the running—will show that I truly believe in what I am doing –and will help to raise more funds to fight cancer. I am fully aware than a 50 mile run is nothing compared to the challenges cancer survivors fight all the time. I will be sore for a while but I soon will be doing fine. Many fighting cancer are not that lucky. Their illness and/or drugs cause them to feel cruddy most/much of the time. Many can’t say, “Well, in a few days I will be over this and I will feel fine.”
- We are asking as many teams as possible to sponsor either 1 or 2 miles by having your team members take turns running with me during your assigned mile(s).Teams will sign up for their mile or parts of the mile. Not all team members would need to run. Some could be lap counters to help me track the miles. A few runners could also serve as “course monitors” to help keep me from being run over by those throwing footballs/softballs/Frisbees. We will look to set up a few cones around the outside perimeter out of the way of participants as much as we can. It was approx 5 laps to a mile last year. We will get a lap measured so we will have it precise.
- Please challenge your team members to use a sales pitch something like “if he is willing to run 50 miles in one night in the UNI Dome you can at least pick up a pen and write a check to ACS for Relay for Life”.
- We are also looking to see how many teams can be in our “50 for 50 Club”; to be in this club a team gets 50 pledges/donations of $50 or more. For a team of 15 members each member would need an average of only 3-4 at that level. 50-50 teams would have their team names on a special poster at the event.
Thanks for your all your efforts for ACS and Relay!!!
Sincerely,
Dave Martin
Be a superhero like Dave and make it a team goal to be members of our 50 for 50 Club!
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