Rafael Martin’s “50 Miles Against Cancer”

This weekend I met up with some friends that I’ve known for years from Facebook.  It’s truly amazing the connection you can make over the web using social networking.

One of the good friends that I had a chance to meet is Rafael Martin. He is an autism teacher here in Tampa and if that’s not amazing itself on its own, Rafael is running 50 miles on 3/12/12 to raise money for Moffitt Cancer Center.

“I am running “50 Miles Against Cancer” on March 12, 2012, because of my mother, Ligia Martin. She passed away from stomach cancer on January 18, 2005. I moved back in with her to take care of her while she went through chemotherapy treatments. After 11 months she couldn’t take anymore. I was there when she passed away in her home, surrounded by her family and friends. Her last words were, “God is calling me home.”

I have done three previous 50 mile run. Each time I did it to raise money for my school to buy supplies. I have had some success in raising money. The total is now $12,700 for my schools, but I wish it was more. During the last run from Tampa to St. Petersburg and back, I decided that I wanted to do a run to raise money for cancer research, I contacted Moffitt Cancer Center, and they agreed to let me do a 50 mile run for them.

Running 50 miles is not easy. It is just as hard as it sounds. For a trained, seasoned athlete it would be very difficult; for me it is almost impossible. I am not an athlete. I am not in superhuman shape. I would consider myself an average runner at best. I will never win any races. I just don’t stop. I make a vow at the start of the run to finish it, and then I do whatever it takes to finish it.”

 Rafael Martin is running from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa to Highlander Park in Dunedin and then back to Moffitt Cancer Center. He is asking for donations to be sent to Moffitt Cancer Center at PO Box 23827 Tampa, FL 33623-3827 Re: 50 Miles Against Cancer.

Good luck Rafael!! I hope to see you a the end of the race at Moffitt tomorrow night!!

Here is a story from WTSP about Rafael’s 50 Miles Against Cancer.