Girl runs for good cause

[justinperry]

Girl runs for good cause

http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100227/NEWS01/2270307/1079/news01/Girl-runs-for-good-cause

B.A. Morelli • Iowa City Press-Citizen • February
27, 2010

The goal is completing a marathon in June, but the
motivation is the cause, University of Iowa junior
Laura Smidt said.

Smidt, 21, has run several half marathons. But being
part of a charity called Team in Training, which
raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society, is fueling her pursuit of her first full
marathon, she said.

"When I am out there running, it is easy for me to
quit running. So I think about the people I am
running for. They can't quit their fight. When I am
out there, it is pretty easy compared to what they
fight every day," she said.

The Keokuk native studying business and
communications is one of about 10 people from the
Iowa City area participating in one of four Team in
Training events this year, said Kate Giguere, the
Eastern Iowa campaign coordinator for Team in
Training.

They each have committed to raising $2,900, which
will go to blood cancer research and providing free
information and support services, Giguere said.

Smidt is training for a June marathon in San Diego.
Through Team in Training, she has the support of
teammates and she will have months of training with
certified coaches, she said. Smidt plans to exceed
the minimum and raise $4,000.

Team in Training has raised more than $1 billion
for blood cancer research in more than 21 years,
according to the organization's Web site.

The Iowa Chapter for Team in Training still is
recruiting participants for summer events, including
marathons and half marathons in Vancouver and
San Diego, America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in
Lake Tahoe, Calif., and the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Des
Moines, Giguere said.

The deadline for registering for the summer events
is Monday and then recruiting for fall begins,
Giguere said.