BOSTON - Randy Zemlicka has overcome open heart surgery and is running the Boston Marathon Monday, April 21 after raising money for cancer research through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's marathon challenge.
Zemlicka, of Monroe, will be one of about 36,000 running the Boston Marathon. Zemlicka was born with a defective aortic valve. He had open heart surgery in 1995 and received a mechanical heart valve.
He has run 37 marathons in 31 states. Zemlicka is dedicating his Boston Marathon race to Ames Relan, 7, his daughter's nephew who is a cancer survivor.
Zemlicka has run marathons from the ocean in Hawaii to the streets surrounding the national mall and Capitol in Washington, D.C. Just more than a year ago, two bombs went off near the finish line and three people were killed and more than 260 injured.
"It's a dream to run in the Boston Marathon," he said. "It's one of the most prestigious marathons. The fact that you have to qualify and they limit it to about 20,000 runners makes it special."
Zemlicka set a goal of raising $12,000 for cancer research for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He and his team plan to raise a total of $5.3 million. Zemlicka said he was excited to get the opportunity through the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. Donations for Zemlicka's Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge can be made online at Rundfmc.org/2014/randyz.
Zemlicka, of Monroe, will be one of about 36,000 running the Boston Marathon. Zemlicka was born with a defective aortic valve. He had open heart surgery in 1995 and received a mechanical heart valve.
He has run 37 marathons in 31 states. Zemlicka is dedicating his Boston Marathon race to Ames Relan, 7, his daughter's nephew who is a cancer survivor.
Zemlicka has run marathons from the ocean in Hawaii to the streets surrounding the national mall and Capitol in Washington, D.C. Just more than a year ago, two bombs went off near the finish line and three people were killed and more than 260 injured.
"It's a dream to run in the Boston Marathon," he said. "It's one of the most prestigious marathons. The fact that you have to qualify and they limit it to about 20,000 runners makes it special."
Zemlicka set a goal of raising $12,000 for cancer research for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He and his team plan to raise a total of $5.3 million. Zemlicka said he was excited to get the opportunity through the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. Donations for Zemlicka's Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge can be made online at Rundfmc.org/2014/randyz.
