2009 Carlsbad Marathon Heroes of the Marathon & Half
Mason Smedley
Mason,
at the age of 17 months, was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis, a
very rare auto-immune disease and has spent much of his young life in
the hospital. He has had to fight for his life on a number of
occasions. He suffered a perforated bowel due to the progression of
the disease and the prescribed heavy steroid use. During surgery to
remove a portion of his colon, it was discovered that he also had an
enlarged heart. The prescribed steroids had also resulted in high
blood pressure, a suppressed immune system, cataracts and pneumonia
which left him with a scarred lung.
Over
the past few years, Mason has continued to get weaker and is now in a
wheelchair. He has lost the use of all but one limb, his right arm,
but he remains a strong and loving little boy. In his short time on
this earth, he has endured more suffering than many of us will in our
entire lifetime yet he is still funny, witty and positive. He has a
strong presence and an optimistic attitude.
His
dad will push him in the half marathon and together they hope to raise
funds and awareness for this disease so that one day there will be a
cure for Juvenile Dermatomyositis and no child will have to suffer its
devastating effects as Mason has.
Melonie Applegate
It’s
4:45 a.m. at the starting line for the 2008 Carlsbad Marathon, also
known as On The Roll For A Cure Marathon, for those who are in this
race to fight back against a disease that has challenged them and their
families.
Melonie Applegate (pictured left with Paul) is
tucking a blanket gently over her husband Paul Applegate, as he sits in
his wheelchair. It’s cold and foggy in the pre-dawn darkness and
everyone speaks in low quiet voices.
Melonie knows this pre-race
routine well as she has been here for the last four years in the same
spot at the same time. Paul Applegate was diagnosed with Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, over four
years ago, and since then was the lead marathoner for the Greater San
Diego Chapter of the ALS Association.
This year, again, a
group of three PALS, People Living with ALS, will comprise a chapter
relay team that will be pushed in their wheelchairs for a total of 26.2
miles. The “pushers” are family members, caregivers and friends of the
PALS who faithfully show up every year eager to push their own marathon
heroes.
It is hard to find a dry eye anywhere when all three
cross the finish line, some of them struggling and with assistance, to
an enormous cheering throng. Pure raw courage meets with pure raw
emotion and renders an inspirational finish.
We lost Paul this
past June, but Melonie will be here again in her usual spot, supporting
those athletes who continue the battle against this disease. Melonie’s
contributions to her husband and her family, and to the San Diego ALS
Chapter make her a truly outstanding Hero for the Carlsbad Marathon.
Melonie soldiers on in her own heroic way, although she is still
uncomfortable with the title – Hero.
Natasha Sandrock
Natasha
Sandrock is running instead to honor the heroes who give live after
death. She’s dedicating her fourth Carlsbad Marathon this year to one
of the official charities of the marathon - Lifesharing - the organ and
tissue organization serving San Diego and Imperial Counties.
In
2002, two months before Natasha and her husband Michael prepared for
their first marathon, Michael died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism.
Natasha ran in Michael’s honor. “Our tragic situation turned into a
blessing … a testimony to others,” Natasha said after completing the
Carlsbad Marathon last year. Since Michael’s death, this inspirational
young widow has run more than a dozen marathons en route to her goal of
seven marathons on seven continents.
As
an “extreme marathoner,” Natasha ran 3700 steps at the Great Wall of
China, walked 10 days before starting the Mt. Everest Marathon in
Nepal, scaled and then ran marathons on Machu Picchu in Peru and the
Swiss Alps in Davos, and recently completed the Mt. Kilimanjaro run in
Tanzania. Antarctica, Australia, Easter Island and Pikes Peak remain on
her “To Run” list.
“Life
is precious. Live it to the fullest and please consider being an organ
and tissue donor,” the human resources professional emphasizes. “It
takes only minutes to sign up at the DMV or online at
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org and can mean a lifetime to someone else.”
Misty Oto
Misty’s
mother succumbed last year to the genetic killer that is Huntington’s
Disease (HD). 29-year-old Misty, now runs in hopes for a future that
will free her and her two young daughters from the same fate as her
mother.
“My
mother was very open. As long as I can remember, my mom discussed it,”
Misty says. “I remember thinking, ‘That’s just our luck! This rare
disease, and we have to be the ones to get it.’ She told us that it was
inherited, that we would have a 50-50 chance of getting it, and that if
we had kids, they would also have a 50-50 chance of getting it. If we
had questions, she would discuss them.”
Misty’s
hope is for a cure so that her daughters, three-year-old Malia, and
two-year-old Kaili, and her seven nieces and nephews don’t have to
face the threat of HD. Already Misty’s older brother Jamie has HD
symptoms. He has four children, all at risk. As part of her strategy
Misty has been training to run the Carlsbad Marathon to raise funds for
research.
Some
research indicates that running may prolong the onset of HD so Misty is
running to help find a cure and to lessen the terrible impact HD has
had on her family and many other families.
“My
husband Randy and I are lucky that we have perfectly healthy children
now. There’s always a possibility of anything in life. I don’t regret
that my mother had me, knowing very well that there is a possibility
that I could have this as well. I do not begrudge my mother. I am happy
for every day that I have on this earth. And I hope that my children
feel the same.”
Kathleen Stark
Many
years ago, when Rady Children’s Hospital was adding a wing to its
facility, the employees were allowed to write a message in the tower.
Kathleen Stark (pictured left with daughter Brittany) wrote a special
message to her daughter, Brittany. Little did Kathleen know that years
later Brittany would spend the final months of her life in that same
hospital. Brittany was diagnosed with a heart condition that would
require a heart transplant. She waited eleven months for the heart
that never arrived, passing away at the age of fourteen.
Kathleen,
then a strong advocate for her daughter, still advocates today but in a
different way. Kathleen often speaks at public functions, using a
letter from Brittany as a vehicle to share Brittany’s eleven-month
journey. Kathleen tirelessly speaks about the need for organ donation
here in San Diego County. Among many charitable efforts, Kathleen has
given years of service, bereavement support and compassion to parents
of patients of Rady Children’s Hospital.
This
marathon marks the ten year anniversary of when Kathleen and her
husband first ran in the Carlsbad Marathon in Brittany’s memory to
inspire others and to create awareness of the need for organ and tissue
donation. Kathleen will run the marathon again this year with her
daughter Brooke to honor Brittany and the more than 1,400 San Diegans
who have passed away while awaiting a life-saving organ transplant.
David Kariuki
David
Kariuki has known many days when running meant survival. As an
orphan, David grew up on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya where he ran
for safety, ran to hide and ran to escape the dangers he faced each
day. Running was a way of life. After many years on the street, David
(pictured in the middle of the photo on the left) was rescued by a
kind, generous man who used his financial resources to open an
orphanage for children left abandoned and alone.
Because
of one man’s willingness to provide a home for the hundreds of children
he found in need, David was given a chance in life. He was provided a
safe place to live, food and an education. He was even able to pursue
his dreams and by working hard graduated from university as a qualified
Social Worker.
He
now serves other children left hurting and alone after the death of
their parents. Working as Heart for Africa’s Country Coordinator in
Kenya, David is able to impact the lives of many children in positive
life-giving ways. He uses the knowledge he has acquired as well as his
own life experiences to reach out to the children who are hurting and
alone. David works to provide a safe place for children to live, grow,
learn and thrive. No more running on the streets for David or for the
children he cares for. Now running can be a means to raise awareness
and provide for children.
David is actually making his first trip out of Kenya to come here to be with us and to run his first half marathon.
Bill CarlsonBill was first diagnosed with Type I diabetes when he was sixteen. When most teens were worried about final exams or who to go to the prom with, Bill was worried about staying alive but he refused to let diabetes control his life. In 1983, he became the world’s first-ever diabetic Ironman triathlete when he competed in an Ironman Triathlon.
Since that epic race, Bill has raced in 6 Ironman Triathlons, some 80 marathons, finished three 100-mile ultramarathons and sixteen 50-miles along with nearly 140 total triathlons.
His message has inspired millions. Bill says “I have been an athlete all of my life. I developed diabetes when I was a high school football player but that didn’t bother me that much. Just had to get things under control and continue what I loved to do most and that was working out. I found that my love of exercise was something that others with diabetes did not have and that the exercise was very good for people who have diabetes. So I have turned myself into an example, a role model, for others who have diabetes. I will continue my athletics, diabetes or not. I just want to bring as many people along with me as I can in this endurance way of life. What a joy it is to really fly under your own power.”
2008 Carlsbad Marathon Heroes of the Marathon
Brittany Rogers,
My whole life I have struggled with my weight. When I was a little
girl and we had to run a mile in school, I couldn’t do it because I was
too heavy and everyone would make fun of me. When I was 17 years old I
decided I had enough and I made up my mind to lose weight. I lost 70
pounds! The next goal that I set for myself was to get over my fear
of running. When I lost all this weight I started dealing with major
self image problems which led to depression. I decided that doing a
race might help me deal with these issues so I decided to sign up for
the Carlsbad Half Marathon. Through running and training for the race
I have gained the confidence to know that I can do anything and I hope
my story will be an inspiration to others who face these same issues.
Brittany Rogers, age 19
Alan Sakal
In early 2006, after never running in my life, I decided to sign up for
the Carlsbad Marathon. I’m not sure what compelled me to want to run a
marathon, but I just knew it was something I was “supposed” to do. In
July of 2006, I joined In Motion Fit in Carlsbad. My first “check out”
run with the group, I could barely run two blocks. I had my work cut
out for me.
With the encouragement of the wonderful In Motion
FIt coaches, and a lot of hard work, six months later I was standing on
the starting line of the Carlsbad Marathon with thousands of other
runners. Not only was this my first marathon, I had never even been to
one.
I was told to be prepared to “hit the wall,” and sure
enough, at 20 miles I felt as if I could not continue. By no means
could I go another 6.2 miles, I had nothing left. I said a prayer,
asking God to carry me the rest of the way. At that same moment, out of
the crowd of spectators, came my training coach, Stan. He ran me in the
remainder of the race, encouraging me all the way. Coincidence? I don’t
think so. I was running for a higher cause.
That cause is the
Bread of Life Rescue Mission in Oceanside. For the last four years, I
have been a Board Member, and frequent volunteer at the Mission. On one
particular night, as I was passing out blankets to our shelter guests,
it came to me. I knew why I was “supposed” to run in the Carlsbad
Marathon. I was supposed to raise money to buy cots for our guests to
get them off the floor.
I proceeded to create a fundraising
website and then sent an e-mail to my friends asking them to sponsor me
in the race. They really came through! We raised almost $9,000 and were
able to buy cots for all of our guests. They are no longer on the
floor.
After the marathon, I continued to run with my group,
and in April I entered the La Jolla Half Marathon. During the race, I
ruptured a disk in my back that required surgery. While in the
hospital, I contracted a staph infection. I had to go back to the
operating room two additional times, and endure a lengthy recovery
which included 12 weeks of continuous IV therapy. Due to the trauma to
my spine, I was unable to walk, and had to train my legs to move again.
It was not until November that I recovered. I really missed my
running partners and wanted to join them again. Slowly I started to
walk with Stan’s walking group at the YMCA. In December, I joined my
group again. All that time off affected me, and I had trouble keeping
up with the group. With only 30 days left until race day, I knew I was
not capable of running in the marathon. What about the half marathon?
Is 30 days enough time to train to run the half? I hope so, because
that is what I am doing. After all, if I am going to ask my friends to
sponsor me again, I had better be in the race!
Alan Sakal
Jean Coloarusso
began a marathon for the people of Nigeria in 1998. She first began at
a walking pace by fundraising for the building of a chapel in Minna,
Nigeria. Once completed, Mrs. Colarusso visited the chapel and was
moved by the many needs of the Nigerian people. Seven out of 10 people
are infected with the HIV virus. After her initial visit, Mrs.
Colarusso knew she had to pick up her pace. During the last ten years,
she has almost single handedly provided the means for a now
self-sustaining boys’ school, built a home for widows and orphans,
created an Internet café at Kozito School giving access to its 500
students, and in January 2007, opened an AIDS/HIV Clinic and Hospice
Center. Mrs. Colarusso is affectionately called “Mama Africa” in
Nigeria because of the nurturing she has given to so many who must face
death and poverty on a daily basis.
At 72 years young, Mrs.
Colarusso has begun the largest project to date; the Dr. William J.
Kupiec Memorial School for Girls which will educate 400 girls. She
understands the life-changing, historical significance a girls’ school
will make in this part of the world. In Nigeria, poor girls are rarely
educated past the sixth grade and this school will be the first of its
kind to educate poor girls 7th grade through college preparation.
Mrs.
Colarusso is indeed a hero for the great improvements she has made to
the lives of the people of Nigeria. She has worked tirelessly and
accomplished so much without the advantage of being a media mogul,
famous actress, or a rock star.
She will be doing the Half
Marathon this year but her real marathon will continue with no finish
line as she continues to be a voice and a hand-up for the people of
Nigeria.
Donna Telles-Green:
I believe all those who are organ or tissue donors and their families
are HEROES. The San Diego Fair agreed and honored donor families at
the 2007 San Diego Fair. The 13th happened to be my son, Christopher’s
(shown in photo with Donna)10-year anniversary of his heart
transplant. They honored his donor’s mom, Donna. Even though she was
present at the then San Diego Marathon when Christopher walked the last
mile of the marathon with the relay team of people who had helped save
his life, Donna did not run. This year she is participating by walking
the half marathon with Christopher. Christopher’s donor, Tommy died at
the age of ten in a car accident. He fought for his life for 7 days at
Children’s Hospital in Orange County. When he was pronounced brain
dead his mother and father consented to organ donation. Tommy did what
none of the doctors could do for Christopher, he saved his life. In
his last hour, he gave a lifetime. Donna has always participated with
us to help educate people on the importance of organ and tissue
donation. I believe she is truly a hero. Definition of a hero is
someone who has great strength. I believe her strength comes from the
inside as well as the outside, making a decision in your darkest hour.
A hero is one who shows courage. This too describes Donna. She has
always been there for our family and opened her heart to include us as
part of her family. She is a courageous mother who made a decision
that changed our lives. And for that our hearts will forever be
together, we are family.
Liz Truxaw (Christoher’s Mom)
Dr. Landon Pryor
may hail from the cold Midwest but these days he calls our sunny
California home and we are lucky to have him. Dr. Pryor is running in
this year’s Carlsbad Half Marathon on behalf of Fresh Start Surgical
Gifts where he is their resident fellow. As the latest addition to the
organization’s team of dedicated medical volunteers, Dr. Pryor will be
volunteering alongside some of San Diego’s foremost experts in
pediatric craniofacial surgery for the next 12 months.
Landon
opened his medical school application with the quote, “We are here to
add what we can to life, not get what we can from it.” As you quickly
get to know this young doctor, you realize he truly takes this quote to
heart. Throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies, during a
time when most medical students are just trying to make their grades,
Landon has tirelessly lent his time and energies toward bettering the
world around him. In his first years of medical school in Illinois,
Dr. Pryor traveled to Guatemala to provide medical care to
underdeveloped communities. Upon return he joined a tutoring program
for children in a local hospital and took part in a “Students teaching
AIDS to students” program where he provided education and awareness on
the disease to underprivileged teens. In 1999, Landon also became
involved in the Special Friends Program of the American Cancer Society
where he served as a Big Brother for children with cancer.
Dr.
Pryor recognizes that his education and training put him in a unique
position to give back in a very significant way. “I am fortunate to
have found a field of medicine that I am very enthusiastic about, and
know that this passion for plastic surgery will only continue to grow
stronger.” Since his busy academic career, Landon has continued to
pursue his passion for giving back. As Fresh Start’s Craniofacial and
Pediatric Plastic Surgery Clinical Fellow, he is involved with complex
and demanding cases of children suffering from physical deformities.
Since these children have no way of paying for the medical care they so
desperately need on their own, they receive all of their treatment at
no cost. Landon is inspired by their courage and their gratitude for
the care they receive. In addition to volunteering for the
organization in a medical capacity, Dr. Pryor wanted to serve as an
inspiration and champion for the young patients in the community. So,
when asked if he would like to walk or run in this year’s Carlsbad Half
Marathon, he did not hesitate. To date Dr. Pryor has raised over $600
for Fresh Start and is counting on the smiles of the Fresh Start
patients to help pull him through those tough 13.1 miles. Go Landon!
He
currently walks with a cane due to balance difficulties and wears
arm/hand braces, but will attempt to complete his sixth straight
Carlsbad Marathon on January 21, 2007. He is the one who wears the cool
red lobster hat during the marathons!Although he has been forced to retire from his busy practice in Anesthesiology Medicine because of the coordination problems caused by the spinal cord injury, he has found an incredible life as a community servant/volunteer. He founded and led the Ellen Browning Scripps Elementary School Safety Patrol for four years; he tutors math and reading; he’s the CubMaster of the largest Cub Scout Pack in the District; he helps coach P.E., soccer, and baseball; he has received multiple awards from the San Diego City Schools, Scripps Ranch Civic Association, and the Boy Scouts of America; he teaches Sunday School; and he has received commendations from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and the California State Senate for his work with the Cedar Fire Recovery.
Tom Burke
has been a loyal participant of the Carlsbad Marathon since 1992. He
has never run nor walked the marathon, but he manages one of the
largest and most enthusiastic water stations on the course. His
consistence and loyalty to the event is matched by his love for his
daughter, Michelle.
Tom first became involved with the
marathon when Michelle was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a
hereditary degenerative disease of the retina, leading to progressive
blindness. He wanted do something to make more people aware of this
disease and bring attention to the need for funding for research.
Currently there is no cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa and only limited
vision aids available to enhance the vision and retard the
deterioration of the patient’s sight. In 1992, he approached In Motion
and asked if there was a way he could use the Carlsbad Marathon to help
him spread the word. Because of Tom, Retinitis Pigmentosa became an
official charity of the Carlsbad Marathon and Tom became the manager of
the water station at Carlsbad Boulevard and La Costa.
Tom
never gives up. This past summer while on a work assignment in
Sacramento, Tom suffered a devastating stroke. He was away from his
family, staying in a rented apartment during the week, only going home
on weekends. When this happened, he was not able to call for help and
it was many hours before Tom was discovered and rushed to the hospital
where he was treated for the next three months.
Tom beat the
odds. His stay in the hospital was followed by months of rehabilitation
which is still ongoing. But as soon as he could speak, Tom asked a
friend to “call the Carlsbad Marathon and tell them I will be there.”
Tom
will be at his usual post directing over 100 of his friends as they
serve water and Ultima to the marathoners passing by. When you go by,
take a minute to say “hello” to a “True Marathon Hero.” Just look for
the guy with the broad smile and the friendly wave. That’s Tom!
Mycle Brandy:
"I am doing this marathon on behalf of the American Stroke Association
(Train To End Strokes). I have had four strokes in the past and I’m
currently on chemotherapy for liver disease (which is causing me to use
a cane). I will be starting at 5:30 a.m. with the walkers though I do
hope to be able to run some. A little over two years ago I was mailed a
flier from the American Stroke Association. Not believing I could
complete a marathon, I joined the team in the hopes of completing at
least one half marathon and have completed three since then. I am doing
this marathon to not only expand the awareness of the causes and
dangers of strokes, but also to participate with people who are giving
up their time to train and eventually compete in marathons for an
extremely worthy cause. These fine people give up their Saturday
mornings for four months of training and collect donations to help end
the threat of death and impairment from strokes forever. I consider
myself very lucky to be part of this organization and this first
marathon of many more to come.
Ross Kinney:
"My first marathon was run for the Team in Training program in 1999 and
I was truly blessed to have the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society assign Kelly Grubb as my patient honoree. Kelly
was originally diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in 1996. She
has endured several relapses, a bone marrow transplant with another
relapse, and in 2002 made medical history as the first pediatric
patient in the nation to receive a mismatched stem cell transplant.
Kelly
remained cancer-free and was approaching the all important 5-year
anniversary date when her cancer inexplicably returned yet again. Only
weeks from what I’d hoped would be a carefree celebration of her 18th
birthday, she found herself fighting this disease once again, and Kelly
and her family have to leave their home in Montana again to start
treatment in Seattle, Washington.
Throughout the years I have
known Kelly, she has never once complained about her setbacks. She is
always positive and fights this horrible disease with unbelievable
courage and dignity. She has been an inspiration in my life and is also
someone I look up to as a role model. She is an amazing person. Her
strength and compassion for others is remarkable. She has touched my
life and so many others during her cancer journey.
I will
once again be running in her honor on January 21, 2007 at the Carlsbad
Marathon. She is truly my hero and it will be an honor to dedicate this
marathon to her.
Debbie Corradini
is a marathon hero. She is a forty-three year old mother of two girls,
one of whom is a special needs child. Marissa, now 12, was born with a
genetic disorder called Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome (CFC). This is an
extremely rare disorder, with less than a hundred diagnosed cases.
Doctors gave Marissa little chance for a long life as she suffered from
failure to thrive, a hole in her heart, psychomotor deficits and mental
retardation.
Debbie threw all of her energy into supporting her
girls’ needs. She battled to get her special needs daughter Marissa,
the professional care she needed, and worked hard to keep her daughter,
Presley, as normal and grounded as possible. Debbie’s love and
nurturing have led Marissa to achieve what doctors said she could not
-- to walk and to talk! Marissa has even made great progress in
swimming, thanks to the loving support of her mom, who never gave up on
her.
Debbie took up running to fight stress about four years
ago. She slowly began seeing progress, never gave up on herself, and
completed four half-marathons in the next few years. The Carlsbad
Marathon is her first attempt at a full marathon. She has trained hard;
juggling a career as a court reporter, mom, wife and runner. Debbie’s
husband Steve, and daughters Presley and Marissa, will be at the finish
line to cheer her on just as she has supported each of them in their
extracurricular activities. Debbie is a true example that you can
follow your dreams and achieve your goals if you put your mind to it.
Connor Hume,
age 10, (pictured left with with his younger brother) is the youngest
Hero of the Marathon. Connor has shown such courage and strength in the
face of adversity. He has two younger brothers with serious illnesses;
Parker, age 8, has been battling Juvenile Dermatomyositis for over 4
years, and Cole, age 4, was recently diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease
and has other multiple health issues.
Connor has been the
biggest supporter of his brothers, comforting them during their
hospital stays, holding their hands when they get shots, pushing their
IV poles down the hallways, finding ways to distract them from their
pain and knowing just what to say when they are feeling bad. Connor
does everything he can to help find a cure for his brother. In fact,
Connor said he would give his heart to his brother to save his life.
Last
year, Connor was an active volunteer for the Carlsbad Marathon. He
helped organize and recruit volunteers for Cure JM, stuffed goodie bags
for the Cure JM Team, served as a course guide and made signs to cheer
on the runners. This year, Connor has recruited a group of friends to
walk the first few miles of the half marathon with Parker to show their
support of Parker and Cure JM.
