Spirit Award
The Spirit Award honors those people who have not only taken on the challenge of completing a marathon or 1/2 marathon, but who have overcome considerable obstacles while doing so. Throughout the years the marathon has witnessed runners and walkers who train while overcoming major illness or who use the marathon as part of a lifestyle change to accomplish significant weight loss, among other odds.
Here are the inspirational stories of the 2011 winners:
Brenda Anderson, Ashland, OH
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In December 2002, Brenda fell down the steps in her home breaking the tibia and fibula in her leg. After several surgeries, 3 months of being bed-ridden and many months of rehab, Brenda was eventually able to walk normally again. And when she could, she started to run. In January 2010 she ran a ½ marathon in Phoenix, and in September 2010, she ran another ½ marathon in Dayton. Last October, she ran her first marathon in Columbus at the age of 58. She ran her second marathon last spring in Cleveland and will be running her third marathon this October in Columbus at age 59. Brenda dedicates her runs to “Legs for Leah” in support of her granddaughter, Leah, who suffers from infantile spasms. These seizures have severally hampered Leah's development, as she is not able to crawl or walk among other disabilities.
Matthew Cox, Avon, OH
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Matt Cox will run the entire Columbus Marathon pushing his seven-year-old son Benjamin, who is disabled and will be seated in a special adaptive jogger. Matt and Benjamin are part of “Team Benjamin,” which also includes mom Diane, sister Emily and 18 additional friends and family members who are running to raise money and awareness for Nationwide Children’s Hospital and United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland (UCP). Team Benjamin’s fundraising goal for the marathon is $25,000. Over the past three years, Matt and Team Benjamin have raised $100,000 for UCP through their participation in the Cleveland Triathlon. In 2011, Matt decided it was time to broaden his efforts beyond the Cleveland community he and his family call home. When asked why, Matt says he knows their story is one that is shared by many families of disabled children – all across Ohio – who are served by terrific organizations like Nationwide Children’s and UCP, and also that they have many good friends in Columbus who have been supportive over the years.
Jack McClain, Granville, Ohio; Craig McClain, Louisville, KY; John McClain, Cambridge, MA; Felisia Rayment, Bluff City, TN
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Leading a family of runners, Jack McClain will be competing in his 30th Columbus Marathon this year at 90 years old! According to Running USA, only eight other men in the world have ever completed a marathon at 90 years or older. Jack has run more than 45 marathons in several states. On October 16, Jack will be joined by a number of supporters including his 65-year-old son, Craig McClain, who will walk alongside him. This will be Craig’s third marathon, first full Columbus Marathon and first marathon in 20 years. Despite battling an Achilles injury and working 90-plus-hour weeks as a physician, Craig has still been able to find time to train. Jack’s 29-year-old grandson, John McClain, will run the full marathon and then join up with Jack for the final 13.1 miles. This will be the third marathon John has completed with his grandfather, his third Columbus Marathon, his seventh marathon this year and 11th overall marathon. In 2009, John suffered from a pulmonary embolism in his lungs and was lucky to survive. Since then, Jack’s inspiration and John’s desire to defeat his illness have unlocked John’s passion for running. Felisia Rayment, Jack’s granddaughter, will also be running her first Columbus Marathon and fifth marathon overall in support of her grandfather.
Chris Mitchell, Parma, OH
In April 2009, Chris was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. An MRI revealed that the cancer was moving quickly up his spine and chemotherapy would have to start immediately. Throughout the six months of chemotherapy, he kept a positive attitude with the love and support of his network of family and friends. On October 15, 2009 he received news that he was officially in remission. In 2010 and 2011, Chris trained and completed the Cleveland Marathon for cancer patients, survivors, and those that lost their lives to this disease. Chris continues to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through Team in Training and will be completing his second Columbus ½ Marathon on October 16, 2011.
Michael Mukavetz, Westerville, OH
Five years ago, at the age of 28, Michael was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. At the time his two children were three and one-and-a-half years old. Michael fought through six rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant at The James. He held a full time job and stayed active through the entire ordeal. Michael was not a runner before his cancer diagnosis, but took up the sport to regain muscle he lost while sick and to set a good example for his children. The 2011 Nationwide Insurance Columbus ½ Marathon will be his first race greater than a 5K.
Gary Russell, Mansfield, OH
Being legally blind, Gary knows there are things in life he cannot do, like drive or play most competitive sports, but running he CAN do and he does it with intense passion and enthusiasm. When Gary is on the road running, he does not let his vision loss limit him. He is in control. He can run faster or slow down. He can press through the pain or quit. Gary challenges his abilities each and every day he laces up his running shoes and is an inspiration to many to not give up. In May 2010, Gary completed the Flying Pig Marathon and will participate in the Nationwide Insurance Columbus Marathon on October 16, 2011.
Matt Scroggy, Columbus, OH
In February 2009, during Matt’s first year of pharmacy school, he learned he had kidney failure and would need a transplant within 6 to 12 months to survive. He went from being a perfectly healthy student to taking 27 pills each day to maintain the remaining function he had in his kidneys. On July 28, 2009, Matt’s sister, Sarah, gave her kidney to Matt to save his life. Since then, Matt has continued with school and will be graduating on time. Matt won four medals in the 2010 US Transplant Games, and is getting prepared to run his first ½ marathon. Matt lends his voice as a volunteer for Lifeline of Ohio to help spread the message of organ donation throughout central Ohio with the goal that one day we no longer have a national transplant waiting list. Matt’s dedication is a symbol of gratitude to his sister and of the life saving ability of organ transplants.
Nanci Sexten, Washington Court House, OH
In January 2009, Nanci was diagnosed with chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. A year-and-a-half after finding out about her diagnosis, she began training with Team in Training for the 2010 Columbus ½ Marathon. Not only was Nanci beating the odds against cancer and training for her first endurance event, she was raising money to support cancer research. This year, Nanci will be completing her third Columbus ½ Marathon and will be joined by her two daughters, Jenna Pol and Allison Smith. The three have raised a combined $5,000 for blood cancer research in the last year. With her cancer now in remission, Nanci says the best moment of her whole experience is yet to come – getting to cross the finish line holding her daughter’s hands.
Debbie Wiedwald, Grove City, OH
In the midst of training for the Nationwide Insurance Columbus Marathon, raising three teenagers, and serving as a congregational leader of Trinity Episcopal Church, Debbie’s husband of 20 years, Steve Blackburn, was in a fatal plane crash on July 25, 2011. Not only did she lose her beloved husband, but she instantly became the owner of the business he started 25 years before. After her initial mourning, she realized that life has to go on and she decided to hit the pavement again and continue training for the marathon. Having taken a serious spill in early summer, and now recovered from the many contusions and bruises, Debbie is committed to reaching the finish line to honor Steve, to motivate their children, and prove to herself that life does go on - one step at a time.
Sara Wyen, Galloway, OH
After hitting rock bottom, Sara started running to get fit and lose weight. What ended up happening was a complete transformation of her life. Sara lost more than 50 pounds, stabilized her thyroid hormones, decreased her cholesterol levels dramatically and was no longer at high-risk for developing Type II Diabetes. Sara was happier, healthier, and enjoyed life much more. During this time, Sara’s mother, Darlene, at the age of 61 also started running. She ran with the No Boundaries program and ran her first 5K in August 2010. On April 21, 2011, while on a training run two weeks before her first Quarter Marathon, Sara’s mom passed away unexpectedly. Since that day, every day has been a struggle for Sara. Knowing her mother would not want her to stop running, Sara ran the Cap City Quarter in her honor, and completed her first full marathon in Pittsburg on May 15, 2011. Sara will be running her third Columbus 1/2 Marathon on October 16, 2011 and is also training for the Goofy Challenge at Disney World.
