Leukemia strikes thousands of men, women and children each year, and after working with some people stricken with the disease, Warsaw's Mary Sheffer wants to do something about it.

On April 9, Sheffer will run a 26.2-mile marathon to raise funds for the Leukemia Society of America.

"I don't think of it as 26.2 miles," said Sheffer. "I think of it as running one mile 26.2 times."

But how does one get the idea to run a marathon?

"Basically, I have been running off and on my whole life," said Sheffer. "I ran track in high school, and I have been running since. But I never really knew how to run correctly."

Then Sheffer learned about Leukemia's Team-In-Training program. The Team-In-Training program is the No. 1 endurance program in the world.

"Ninety-six percent of all the people who are trained by the Leukemia Society's Team-In-Training finish marathons," said Sheffer. "I figured they must be doing something right, and that this would be the place to learn how to run injury-free."

But Sheffer has more than personal achievement in mind.

"I want to improve the quality of life for these people," said Sheffer. "I worked for nine years at IU Med Center in the hematology/oncology unit, and what I saw there broke my heart.

"When the patients would get off their treatments, we would have a cake for them or do something special for them, and I saw the happiness it brought them. By running this marathon I can make a difference."

The Team-In-Training program helps people like Sheffer make a difference by teaching them the proper way to run. Participants in the program have coaches to guide them in their preparation, and they follow a manual that guides them through everything from stretching exercises to proper technique to proper shoe selection. Each Saturday, runners from the Northeast Indiana Branch of the Team-In-Training program meet in Fort Wayne to run.

"Team-In-Training is designed that if you can run three miles, they can train you to run a marathon in 18 weeks," said Sheffer. "They not only teach you how to run, they also help you all along the way."

Some of that help involves teaching participants about proper nutrition.

"I have learned what to eat and what not to eat to train properly," said Sheffer. "I have also learned what to do so I don't overheat. The big thing for me right now is breathing. I am learning the best method of breathing so I can go the distance in a marathon.

"Running is very planned. It's not how fast you run, it's how many steps you take. Many things go into it."

As part of her training, Sheffer has greatly increased her water intake. The recommended water consumption for an average human is eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day, which equals just under two liters. On a normal day, Sheffer drinks at least three liters of water, one-and-one-half times the average.

Sheffer, who is 11 weeks into the program, has set many physical goals for herself.

"My goal is not just to run a marathon," said Sheffer. "My goal is to learn how to run correctly and injury-free.

"I want to finish the marathon. I would like to qualify for the Boston Marathon, but if I don't qualify, I would like to run the marathon in under four hours. But a lot will depend on the conditions."

However, Sheffer has better reasons to run, and she outlined those reasons in a letter she sent as part of her fund-raising effort.

"So why am I doing this?" wrote Sheffer. "One, to give my honorees a better quality of life. Two, to raise money for leukemia research. And three, I look good in pain covered with sweat ... Actually it is good for me."

Through her hard work, Sheffer hopes to raise $8,000 by March 10. Her efforts will help benefit her honorees in the program, Brenna Jeffreys, Shirley Lantz and Ann Smith, who are currently in remission. She also runs in memory of Norma Harley, Kathleen Mauzey and Rudy Schobert, who lost their battles to leukemia.

Although Sheffer does not know how her story will end, she has a positive outlook.

"I don't know the end, but I will take it day by day," said Sheffer. "Marathon races can be compared to any hard thing in life. You never stop, you just show yourself how to run through it. So many people stop and give up. You just need to enjoy the journey and run through it." [[In-content Ad]]