Catholics running to benefit others
Race day to raise funds for scholarships, outreach ministry
By Ambria Hammel | January 15, 2009 | The Catholic Sun
When runners take to Valley streets this weekend, many will have more than the finish line in mind.
Nearly 90 Catholic school students plus dozens of staff, parishioners, priests and one religious sister are running the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, Half Marathon or the Kids Rock race to raise awareness of a healthy lifestyle or raise money for their school and parish ministry.
Fr. Dale Jamison, director of the diocese’s Native American ministry, is running the half-marathon Jan. 18 to set a healthy example for Native American youth.
Many of them are prone to diabetes — some 65 percent of the Native Americans he works with suffer from it — and more and more are starting to show signs of it as early as their teenage years.
“Our motto can be ‘outrun diabetes,’” Fr. Jamison said. “If you have an active lifestyle, exercise on a regular basis, have a healthy diet, you can outrun diabetes or at least prolong the onset of it.”
That’s the same message the wellness centers on the reservations promote. It’s also a message Fr. Jamison took to heart years ago.
He began running in the mid ’70s to “outrun diabetes” in his own family.
Now with 31 full marathons, including two Boston marathons, behind him, Fr. Jamison remains healthy. In fact, he’ll celebrate his 62nd birthday immediately following the 13.1-mile run.
Nearly 90 students from both St. Gregory School and Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Tempe are running the Kids Rock race Jan. 17 as part of their commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
For the 60 first- through sixth-graders at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the run is part of a series of races they’ll be in through March thanks to the Chances for Children program. The Arizona non-profit supports programs that encourage sports and other physical activity to combat obesity.
The students didn’t mind giving up their lunch recess once a week to train for the race.
“They are very excited for Tuesdays. Whenever they see me at school, they always ask about running,” said Kerry Camberg, who volunteers at the school.
Last month some of the fifth-grade runners surprised her when they voluntarily ran twice their usual training distance despite a little rain.
The training pays off. Last year, a kindergartner determined to finish first ran — arms outstretched — as fast as he could. Turns out he was the top finisher.
Holy Cross Father Kevin Sandberg led three training sessions with the kids — kindergarten -sixth grade — teaching them how to stretch and pace themselves.
“I’m more excited for the kids’ race than for my own,” Fr. Sandberg said.
He is among 17 St. Gregory faculty, parents and alumni running the half marathon to raise money for the school’s Holy Cross Heart and Mind Award. They’ll collect pledge money for every mile they run.
The scholarship goes to an eighth-grader who plans to enroll in a Catholic high school.
“We give it to the student that best exemplifies Fr. [Basil] Moreau’s zeal for education and Brother Andre [Bessette’s] compassion in service,” Fr. Sandberg said, referring to his congregation’s most famous members.
Salesian Sister Ignacia Carrillo, principal of St. John Vianney School in Goodyear, along with the two parish priests, three faculty members, five parents and several parishioners also hope the money they raise during the half marathon will help students with tuition.
Three-quarters of the students at the school receive tuition assistance.
This will mark Sr. Ignacia’s third race, which she quickly found to be a healthy release for stress and a way to boost her prayer life and overall energy.
“It was a way to evangelize too,” Sr. Ignacia said. Other runners often commented on her “St. John Vianney nun on the run” shirt that the students signed.
“It was a way to make them think about their parish or their school or God,” Sr. Ignacia said.
Roughly 20 members of the St. Vincent de Paul conference at St. Joan of Arc Parish are making sure their running inspires the community to think of those in need.
The team solicited $1,780 in pledges that they’ll turn around to help needy families in their community.
The conference helped 1,300 families and 6,000 individuals last year, distributing some $41,000 for rent and utility assistance and another $4,700 for food.
“I just kept hearing how there were struggles to bring money into our conference,” said Isaac Crosno, team captain.
He’s hoping funds and awareness from the race will change all that.
