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Oct 9, 2009 5:30 am US/Central
Texan Races To Find Cure For Muscular Dystrophy
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images
One North Texan is racing to find a cure for muscular dystrophy. John Killian will run his 10th marathon this weekend, but he does not run to beat his personal best. He runs to beat the disease that is affecting his son, Sam.
"You can't run very far. You can't jump too much. And you get cramps very often," Sam Killian said of his ailment. He has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a degenerative disease that will cause the muscles in his body to break down over time.
"We were looking for things we could do that would have an impact," explained John Killian. "So, we got involved with an organization called Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy." Six months later, John ran his first marathon to raise money.
"I just see it being very similar, in a very small scale, to what Sam goes through every day," John said of his marathon running. "You just persevere and you keep on going no matter how you feel."
And on November 1, 50 people will be running in the New York Marathon in honor of Sam. Craig Miller of SportsRadio 1310 The Ticket is one of those 50 participants. "I didn't know anything about it before I started, and I didn't realize how many people are touched by it," Miller said. "So, now I've almost got a person, a smile to think of as you're running."
Dan Crawford is running his first marathon. He is the principal of Amy Parks Elementary School, where Sam attends. "When it's rainy outside and you don't want to get up and go for that early morning run, you think about Sam and what he goes through on a daily basis," Crawford said.
The Killians have raised nearly $1 million in honor of Sam, and the goal for the New York Marathon is to raise another $500,000.
Along with marathons, the Killians also host
Sam's Family Fun Day Texas, scheduled this year for October 24.
"It's a great feeling," John said, "just knowing that I am doing something for him."
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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