When Justin Bolens and his wife Ariel signed up to run the Emerald Isle Marathon on October 25, they saw it as a personal challenge. But as the race drew closer, the Kernersville couple realized they could turn the miles into something more meaningful.

Ariel’s mother died from breast cancer several years ago, and while the Bolenses first considered running in her honor, the logistics of creating a formal charity proved too complex for their short timeline. Instead, after conversations with the families of Sara and Hudson — two local children undergoing cancer treatment — the couple decided to dedicate their marathon effort to supporting them directly.

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They launched a GoFundMe campaign, setting a goal of $100 for each mile of the marathon, or $2,600 per runner. With a third runner subsequently joining their team, that meant a total goal of $7,800. In just a few months, the fundraiser has already topped $10,000.

“I’d love to see it go to $15,000, but we’ll see how it goes this last month,” Bolens said.

Supporters are also pitching in beyond the donation page. Family and friends plan to cheer from the sidelines on race day wearing custom shirts, which list the names of sponsors who contributed $100 or more. The shirts are also being sold for $28 each, with after-cost proceeds going directly to Sara and Hudson’s families. 

Click here to support the cause or learn more about this fundraiser.

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