Dane Rauschenberg
Dane Rauschenberg, the man who has committed to completing “Fiddy2” (52) marathons in 2006, one marathon per week, has chosen the Cayman Islands Marathon as one of the 52.
On Sunday, 3 December he will compete in the Island’s marathon which will be his 48th event this year.
Rauschenberg began his marathon quest on 8 January by completing the Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando, Florida.
He is competing to raise funds for the Mobile, Alabama chapter of L’Arche International, a federation of communities where people with a mental handicap share their lives with those who can help.
He says he has always wanted to see how far he could push himself athletically and combining that goal with a great cause makes it that much better. “I am running not only for my own personal reasons, but for all of those who are unable to do so for themselves.”
A relative novice to long-distance running, 30-year-old Rauschenberg, began tackling marathons in law school to lose excess college weight and considers himself, “an average runner who happens to be extremely stubborn.”
The Titusville, Pennsylvania native decided to take on the solo task of running 52 marathons and coordinating Fiddy2 as an organization in April 2005. “I truly believe that all of us have something, a feeling inside that makes us want to attain things previously thought to be unattainable. With running, it’s all about putting one foot in front of the other and I urge everyone to come out and run with me, even if only for a mile.”
His website, www.fiddy2.org, seeks sponsorship and donations in addition to raising awareness for L’Arche-Mobile.
Rhonda Kelly of Kelly Holding Ltd., organisers of Cayman Islands Marathon, said they were honoured that Dane had chosen the marathon as one of the races to complete on his extraordinary mission. “We are looking forward to meeting and welcoming this amazing athlete to the Cayman Islands, and I encourage the community to come out and support Dane as he moves closer toward achieving fiddy2.”
Rauschenberg is a 2002 graduate of the Dickinson School of Law and is a Licensing Associate in the Washington, DC area, where he will continue to work throughout the course of Fiddy2. He currently resides in Arlington, Virginia, and is a member of the Washington Running Club.
For more information about Dane Rauschenberg and his marathon journey, log on to www.fiddy2.org.
