Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Two local runners who are usually fighting their way through obstacle course races have taken on three very big obstacles, the three tallest peaks in the U.K. It's all to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.
In something that is reminiscent of "Forrest Gump." Amie Booth and Mark Wood will be on their feet for 40 plus miles a day for 8 days. That's nearly 500 Miles Wood is running in memory of his mother Nancy. Wood tells News 19, "This is the reason, she gave me the opportunity to be here so. It was like a 20 year struggle. Every time you thought she was ok, something else would pop up. Her spirit never changed though. She was just like 'I'm just gonna keep on kickin' butt. and doing what I need to do. and she did four out of five times. Well I guess she really did five because she took it with her when she passed."
Booth says she is the estrogen part of the team but breast cancer runs in her family. She has found three lumps so far. Luckily all of them have been benign. After she returns from the run, she has genetic testing scheduled. She tells News 19, "I want to do this for my daughter because if there is a cure in 50 years like Breast Cancer Now says, then I know I can give her the piece of mind that somebody's trying. And she is going to have me, and she is going to have herself and her grandchildren."
These two ultra and obstacle course runners are raising funds and awareness by doing something that has never been done before. They are running the highest three peaks in Wales, England and Scotland, Pulpit Rock, Cliff Top, and Ben Nevis,. Wood says, "I found out about the three peaks and stupidly said 'Yea, I can do that whole distance.' and here I am two years later making it happen."
Booth says, "Its not been done by a pair and its not been done by a woman all on foot." Previous runners have run each peak, but they have driven between them. Booth and Wood will run the entire distance.
Sponsors are paying for the trip, but they are taking donations; all of which go straight to Breast Cancer Now, a british research group. The running team believes every step they take gets us closer to finding a cure.
Booth says they train for this just by putting in the time on their feet, running every day. She says, "Its gonna be hard. There are going to be times that we are going to want to stop. We don't really have the option to stop. We're not going to stop." She says everyone has their way of fighting the disease and running is theirs.
Wood says "It's going to be ugly, but it will get done. Until you try it, everything seems crazy. We're not doing anything special. We're just putting one foot in front of the other. I mean we're doing it for a very long time."
And when someone donates in memory or honor of someone with breast cancer, they will literally be carrying them on their backs up the mountains and placing banners with their names at the top. Mark says its, "so everyone who has had to deal with it is coming with us at least in spirit."
The Trek will begin on June 21, 2016.
Mark and Amie are paying for the trip themselves, and sponsors are supporting them by giving them food and clothing. If you would like to donate to the cause. Just go to the group's Facebook page or to the Just Giving page.
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