Florence woman to run marathon in Alaska
By:Vanessa S. Holt
FLORENCE Darci Gresko, a college freshman and Florence resident, will run more than 26 miles in a marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, this June to raise money for leukemia and lymphoma research.
And the local restaurant she works for wants to help her get there.
Ms. Gresko, 19, a biology major at William Paterson University, said she wanted to do something to help people.
She plans to pursue a medical career doing research and said she hopes these types of fund-raisers will bring science closer to a cure.
The Olde Columbus Inne, where Ms. Gresko works part time, will hold a charitable champagne brunch this Saturday to help raise money for the cause and to help the young athlete get to the race.
Ms. Gresko said she saw the effect that these fund-raisers can have on the families that struggle with these illnesses at a two-mile walk she participated in last year at Cooper River Park in Cherry Hill.
"There was a little girl they did the walk for, and I saw how happy (her family) was," said Ms. Gresko. "A portion of the money goes to some of the families to help pay their medical bills."
In the Alaskan marathon, she will be running in honor of a Colts Neck leukemia patient, a girl named Paige Robillard.
Although they have not yet met, Ms. Gresko said she has talked to Paige on the phone and learned about her interests.
"She loves animals and horseback riding," she said.
Ms. Gresko said getting to know the people who benefit from these fund-raisers makes it all the more important to keep doing them.
The University of Alaska Anchorage and the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Division sponsors the 26.2-mile Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon that will be held on June 22. The national Leukemia and Lymphoma Society sponsors a sports endurance training program that helps train athletes who are going to compete in races to help raise money for the society.
The society, a nonprofit organization, supports research to find a cure for the blood-related cancers of leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and works to improve the quality of life for patients.
Ralph DeSimone, public relations manager for Southern New Jersey and Shore Region Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, said 75 percent of the money raised will go directly to research, patient services, advocacy and educational materials. The remainder covers administrative costs.
The Southern New Jersey Chapter helps the families of 700 patients in the area, he said.
Ms. Gresko will be collecting donations through June and contributions still can be made through late July to help her reach her $4,000 goal.
She is halfway there, but every contribution is valuable, she said.
Training for a 26-mile race is a long process. Even though she is a soccer player and goes on long runs several times a week, it will be tough to work up to 26 miles, she said.
"I’m up to six to eight miles now," she said. "Some days I run shorter, some days longer. Nothing prepares you for running like running."
Tickets for the champagne brunch can be reserved in advance or purchased at the door. The brunch will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and admission is $22 including food, beverages and a door prize. Entertainment will be provided by harpist Amy Colgan.
The Olde Columbus Inne is located at West Main Street and New York Avenue in Columbus. For brunch reservations, call the Olde Columbus Inne at 298-4449.
For information about making a contribution to Ms. Gresko’s fund-raising efforts for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, call 499-2767 or e-mail [email protected].