Take the money and run?

By COBY LaRUE
Staff

Mary Alice "Mouse" Sturgill has never been in a marathon before. In fact, she only started running as a hobby about a year ago.

However, she didn't let that deter her when a friend brought up the idea of running in a marathon in Honolulu, Hawaii on Dec. 12 to help raise money for the Leukemia Society of America.

In fact, Sturgill pointed out that the event is the top fundraiser for the society.

There was a catch, however: Sturgill had to agree to raise at least $4,500 or the money came out of her own pocket. The deadline is approaching (around the first of November) and Sturgill still needs to raise about $1,500.

"Once you sign the contract, if you don't come across with the full amount you're supposed to raise, they charge it to your credit card," Sturgill said.

The project has tested 30-year-old Sturgill's creativity and mental stamina, inasmuch as she has had to figure out her own fundraisers and events to help meet the lofty goal.

Many people told her that the amount of money she needed to raise was not an attainable goal.

"People told me, 'You can't raise that much money,'" she said. Sturgill took that as a challenge and set about planning an assortment of fundraisers, including yard sales, bake sales, motorcycle rides and a concert.

Locally, she took up money at the gate at a couple of Alleghany football games, mailed out and handed out letters requesting donations and sold raffle tickets.

"It's been quite a challenge, but it has been worth it," she said with a smile. "My family has helped quite a bit, especially with my raffle tickets. It's really been a group effort - my aunts and uncles and everybody has helped."

Sturgill's father and step-mother are John and Doris Sturgill of Piney Creek.

The race will be 26.2 miles and will test Sturgill's stamina, but she feels prepared for the challenge. "I feel like I am pretty ready," she said. "I have been taking cardiovascular training every other day and I teach yoga three nights a week." She also runs every other day, in addition to her other training.

Yoga has helped Sturgill learn to control her breathing better and improved her endurance, she commented.

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