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Thursday, January 18, 2007
American Teenage Boy Plans to Run 200 Miles for Children's Charity
WOW ... can you image running continuously for 200 miles???? That's what the following young man is planning to do to raise money for a Children's Hospital!!! See the details in the article below:
Teens Vows To Run 200 Miles For Children's Charity
By Michele Gile
(CBS) LAKE FOREST, Calif. An 18-year-old runner will begin a planned 200-mile continuous run to raise funds for patients at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) tomorrow at El Toro High School.
Jesse Zweig will begin his "ultramarathon" at 2:30 p.m. from his alma mater at 25255 Toledo Way, and hopes to finish it Saturday, with the goal of raising $20,000, said Vicki Koda of the CHOC Foundation.
The run, with only short bathroom stops, will conclude at Zweig's home on Chestnutwood in Lake Forest, the hospital's Denise Almazan said.
Zweig plans to pass through Orange, Tustin, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills, she said.
The distance is the equivalent of 7 1/2 marathons, Almazan said.
Zweig, who competed in track at El Toro High School, became interested in the concept of running an ultramarathon after reading the book, "The Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner," written by Dean Karnazes, Almazan said.
"He has no personal connection to CHOC," Almazan said. "He feels blessed that he enjoys good health and wants to do something for the kids who are not as lucky."
Zweig, a Mormon, is awaiting an assignment for a two-year mission before going to college, Almazan said.
Zweig told KCAL9 that he is making backup preparations.
"This is the second pair of shoes (that) I need to break in, just in case," he said.
"There's no way I'd be able to do this by myself, (without) people, (without) their encouragement," Zweig said. "I've gotten e-mails, just telling me their stories, people who have been to CHOC. They're kind of helping me out. And also donations, they help out a lot."
Last year, Zweig raised about $7,000 when he ran 100 miles for CHOC, Channel 9 reported.
"It's going to be tough," Zweig said. "It'll be tough, I know that, but I'm prepared for it. I'm not going to give up just because it's hurting. So, I'm just going to push through it."
Zweig said he will keep himself going by thinking of the children at the hospital
Categories: Health & Fitness, Making a Difference in the World, Volunteering