Westchester County attorney Des Lyons will be moving up a gear on November 7 when he runs the New York City marathon for the Thomas Labrecque: Uniting Against Lung Cancer Foundation.
In July, Lyons lost his 47- year-old brother Conor to lung cancer. The same disease claimed the life of his father Dr. Michael Lyons, a pioneer in the field of lung cancer research, six years previously.
"It is with Conor's spirit and that of my dad in my heart that I will take on the challenge of running my first marathon," said Lyons.
"Lung cancer kills more people than the four top cancers combined," he said.
Team Labrecque: Uniting Against Lung Cancer is the single largest non-profit source of funding for lung cancer research in the U.S. and Des Lyons has set himself a $7,000 fundraising target.
Among those cheering him on to reach the dual marathon and fundraising finishing lines will be his two-year-old triplets Kevin, Declan and Cormac.
To donate, go to www.active.com/donate/tglfnymarathon10/honorconor.
Meanwhile, Irish Echo publisher Máirtín Ó Muilleoir is to run the five borough marathon course for the Holy Name of Jesus Parish on West 96th Street in Manhattan.
The church is closely associated with the "Flying Friar," Fr. Brian Jordan who is a veteran marathon runner but is right now nursing an injury. Fr. Jordan has promised to run the last sevenmiles of the course with O'Muilleoir.
A vibrant and diverse urban ministry, the Holy Name Parish is served by a community of Franciscans. To donate, go to www.apublishersblog.blogspot.com or you send checks made out to the church to the Irish Echo, 11 Hanover Square, New York, Ny 10005.
