By Justin Felder - bio | email
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Joanne Paskewich's husband was a runner, completing 15 marathons. He wasn't able to run as he battled Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
"I promised that once he was better I would run with him," said Paskewich. "Now I'm running for him."
Bill Paskewich passed away in March. Soon after, Joanne started training to run her first marathon.
"I've had a couple speed bumps along the way," said Paskewich. Those included shin splints and a crash while training on her bike.
It couldn't stop her training, as she gradually increased the distances she would run.
"I worked up to four miles and six miles," said Paskewich. "When I got up to the eight mile mark, I cried and said 'I can't believe I did eight miles.'"
Now Joanne is getting close to her marathon. She'll head out to San Francisco, and is running with Team in Training, working to fight lymphoma and other blood cancers.
Though Bill won't be there in person cheering her on, Joanne knows he's the only one who will get her across the finish line.
"I was about on mile 10 or 12 [of a training run], I looked down to check my feet and I saw a piece of trash on the ground," said Paskewich. "It was a postcard that said p-u-s-h. I just looked up at him and said 'Thank you for letting my see that piece of trash.' He's with me all the way; he'd be so proud. He's going to be there for me. He'll be my guiding light."
If you'd like to donate to Joanne's fundraising efforts, visit her marathon fundraising page.
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