Man Set To Run 6 Marathons In 6 Days For Charity
By: Katiera Winfrey
Updated: October 26, 2012
"Every time I run I try to run for something," said marathon runner David Johnson.
Johnson will be tying up his running shoes Saturday through Thursday for marathons that will take place in New Braunfels, Albuquerque and Las Cruces. All of which he will drive to covering over 1,600 miles.
Johnson is known in the running community as the "running preacher". He's stepping out on faith, good service, and dogs.
Johnson's run is to remember, Odessa teen Jeremy Bader. He was injured in a motor cross accident leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He's also raising funds for the Humane Society of Odessa.
"One of his desires was the pets and animals and matching people with pets," said Johnson.
Needing to match people with pets was important for Jeremy. After becoming a quadriplegic, his best pet companion was his god-sent Doberman "Zeus".
"Zeus just became a big part of his life. A companion, and even actually an inspiration to keep him going," said Bader's mother Terri Bader.
Zeus, and Jeremy's connection with him, broke in 2009 when Jeremy passed away from re-occurring blood clots. Since then, Johnson has just kept running.
"It's a special thing, like I said I got to know Jeremy and know his heart," said Johnson.
It's a special thing that Jeremy can't see, but animal lovers and dogs can through the donations already given to the Humane Society of Odessa,
So far in Jeremy's honor, the shelter has received a new walkway, several kennels, and after Johnson's upcoming runs, they'll get a new roof.
