Terp is Running for Others
According to his blog, Mark Young '85 is just a regular guy with a running problem who likes to help people. Completing 12 marathons in 12 months is no regular feat. And to those involved in his three pet charities, Young is no regular guy.
Young ran his first marathon in 1989. Prior to starting this year's marathon of marathons for charity, he had already completed 32 marathons, and was ready for a new challenge. "I believe that ordinary people who are properly motivated can do amazing things. That's where the idea of running 12 marathons in 12 months for charity was born. To do it simply to do it wasn't enough. Having a reason bigger than myself was what convinced me to go for it," Young explains.
Young's marathon adventure began at the Disney World Marathon on Jan. 13, 2008 and will finish 364 days later in that same race on Jan. 11, 2009. Each race in between has offered something new—hot or cold temperatures, slow-climbing hills or flat terrain and many new people to meet along the way. And with nine races completed, he only has three—or 78.6 miles—to go.
Young has a personal connection with each of the three charities for which he raises money by running: Germantown HELP, The Dwelling Place and the Make a Wish Foundation. One supports the hungry, one supports the homeless and one supports the sick. So far, Young has already raised more than $5,000 for those less fortunate.
As an alumni association life member and football season ticket holder, Young has been a Terp fan since he was a little kid. While travelling across the country for races he maintains his Maryland connection—a fellow Terp housed him in Ft. Lauderdale.
And while running so many miles is grueling on the body, Young stays motivated to push himself with the help of friends. He is also spurred on with each donation that comes in. A personal motto keeps him running: "do something significant … make an impact … touch a life."
To learn more about Young and his Running For Others mission, click here.
