Chicago runner to run 1,200 miles in August for Cerebal Palsy

http://www.keeponkeepingon.com/

How a little kid with nothing to lose helped a big kid find it all!

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Details of the 1,200-mile run

Teen's daily battles inspire runner to start for Chicago
By Sandra Pedicini Sentinel Staff Writer Posted August 1, 2005

Tim Wambach plans to run 1,200 miles -- from Orlando to Chicago -- during the blistering hot month of August.

He sees the journey -- about 40 miles a day -- as no tougher than the daily struggles of Mike Berkson, a teenager with cerebral palsy who inspired his run.

"Every day, getting through the day is a 40-mile run for him," said Wambach, shortly before starting his trip Sunday from Walt Disney World's All-Star Sports Resort. Mike and his twin brother, David, joined about a dozen other supporters to see Wambach off on his run.

Wambach, who lives in the Chicago area, worked as an aide for Mike, attending school with him and doing everything from taking notes to helping feed him. He wrote a book about the experience, Keep On Keeping On, that has just been printed by an Altamonte Springs publishing company.

Then Wambach decided to take things even further to raise awareness about cerebral palsy. He came up with the idea of a long-distance run earlier this year.

The race is also a personal milestone, he said.

"I've done a lot of talking in my life," said Wambach, 31, who has worked as a youth minister and now speaks to college students about finances. "I haven't done a lot of doing."

For help, he turned to Stu Mittleman, a health and fitness coach who gave new meaning to the term "cross-country" by running from coast to coast -- more than 50 miles a day -- for charity. Wambach estimates he has run about 2,000 miles as part of his training. Not a serious runner before this challenge, he dropped 40 pounds during his four-month training, from 225 pounds to 185.

"There are quite a few people who dream about doing something like this," Mittleman said. "I felt Tim had what it took. I decided to work with him on it. He was passionate about making a difference in Mike's life and doing something to get people's attention and also had the physical and mental resources to pull this off, I guess."

Even in the sweltering heat, Wambach's goal should be attainable if he takes lots of walking breaks and keeps hydrated, said Jon Hughes, who co-owns the Track Shack running apparel store and organizes local races -- though he did question Wambach's plans to run from sunup to sunset.

"The heat's definitely going to make it more difficult," Hughes said. "There's no question."

Wambach has a special diet, a route mapped out by the American Automobile Association, and volunteer drivers who'll stop at various points to provide anything he needs -- from food and water to new socks. On Sunday, Wambach hoped to run 26 miles -- a fraction of a mile less than a marathon. He made it to 17.5 before stopping at Lake Louisa State Park in Lake County.

Once he covers the cost of the run, any additional money raised will go to the Mike & Me foundation, which helps people suffering from cerebral palsy.

"Anything that can bring more awareness of cerebral palsy is good, not just for me," said Mike, who flew into Orlando with Wambach to see him off on the run and spend some time at Walt Disney World as well. "I'm just really proud of him. I'm excited."

Sandra Pedicini can be reached at spedicini@orlandosentinel.com or 407-772-8033.