Marathon participants run for more than fun

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October 5, 2008

Runners collect donations for charity

BY MARY WICOFF The Commercial-News Sun Oct 05, 2008, 08:50 PM CDT

DANVILLE — Many people run in marathons for personal satisfaction. But some local residents run for charity — for people they don’t even know.

Rickey Williams Jr. and John Halloran are among those who are pushing themselves for a good cause. Both will compete in the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12, along with others from the Danville area.

“I’m really excited,” Williams said. “I always had the goal to run a marathon before age 30.”

What makes this race even more special, however, is that he’ll be raising money for the Urban League Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago. He hopes to raise a minimum of $500, and is accepting sponsors, both in person and through the marathon’s Web site.

Williams is executive director of the local Boys & Girls Club.

This is his first marathon; he ran two half-marathons in Indianapolis in 2005 and 2007.

When Williams went online to register for the marathon, he found out it was closed. The only way he could participate was with a team, and he selected the Urban League from a list.

He’s familiar with the Urban League in downtown Chicago, having stayed there for training in the past.

He’s been training for this race, although a car accident in February and a bout with bronchitis set him back.

“One way or another, I plan to cross the finish line,” he said. “When you put your mind to something to accomplish, you can achieve anything.”

Halloran also is running his first marathon — for a girl he’s never met. He agreed to run when he was approached by Chris Griffin, soccer coach at Danville High School who has organized a team to raise money for Mackenzie Hummer, who has cancer.

Halloran knows about Mackenzie through his work as a soccer coach, but hasn’t met her.

Halloran, 29, said he played soccer in high school, but was never a runner. However, his doctor — who also happens to be his father, Thomas Halloran — suggested he lose weight. The younger Halloran took up running, and lost 70 pounds since January.

“I’m ready to go at this point,” he said, adding he’s been training on 20-mile runs and would like to finish in less than four hours.

Halloran contacted his friends and relatives about sponsorships, and has received commitments for a total of $2,000 so far. People may give a set amount or pledge to pay by the mile.

Halloran is an attorney with Acton & Snyder.

Jessica Barton of Clinton, Ind., formerly of Danville, also is running for charity. She will run on behalf of the American Cancer Society.

She is the daughter of Mark Beynon of Danville and Nancy Naylor of Cayuga, Ind.

FYI

More information about the race can be found on the Web site http://www.chicagomarathon.com

To make a donation, click on “giving back,” then the general mission (such as youth programs or medical research), and then the specific group.

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