First-Time Marathoner Is Going The Distance For Arthritis

By Jan Howard

Patty Gaffney of Newtown is training for a world class marathon that she wants to run in honor of a very special little girl, Stephanie Colucci of Newtown. Stephanie, 5, was diagnosed with polyarticular arthritis when she was 3 years old.

An aerobics instructor, Ms Gaffney recently joined the Joints in Motion Marathon Training Team to prepare for a 26.2-mile race in Dublin, Ireland, on October 30 on behalf on the Arthritis Foundation. Joints in Motion trains runners and walkers to complete a marathon in honor of someone with arthritis.

“I feel lucky I’ll be able to run in honor of a little girl with arthritis and contribute something to the Arthritis Foundation,” Ms Gaffney said.

“I like to do fund-raising, and it’s a good cause,” she added. “I didn’t know arthritis affected children.”

Before she can run in the marathon, however, Ms Gaffney needs help from local residents in the form of donation pledges. In exchange for completing the training program, she has promised to raise $3,800 for the Arthritis Foundation by August 15. If she is able to raise this money, she will travel to Dublin to represent Stephanie in the marathon.

Ms Gaffney said she has sent out over 100 letters to friends, business associates, and local residents. In her letter she wrote, “Every donation, large or small, brings me one step closer to reaching my goals and finding a cure for arthritis.”

She has already received some donations through word of mouth, and hopes to meet her goal before August 15.

Contributions are tax deductible. Checks should be made out to the Arthritis Foundation and sent to Patricia A. Gaffney, 179 Hanover Road, Newtown, CT 06470. Credit cards or money orders are also accepted.

One in six Americans is currently living with one of over 100 types of arthritis. In Connecticut, arthritis affects almost 500,000 individuals, including children.

Ms Gaffney first heard about the fundraising marathon through an invitation she received as an aerobics instructor. She wasn’t sure if she would qualify to run in the marathon because she had never run before, but she attended the kick-off meeting in Fairfield anyway. Once there, she learned about the Joints in Training program, which is run by a certified personal trainer employed by the Arthritis Foundation. “They said ‘You can do it,’” she noted.

She began training, which she decided “would benefit me, through getting me in the best shape I’ve ever been in, and the Arthritis Foundation, plus I’d get to see a nice place, Ireland, as well.”

However, because Ms Gaffney has asthma, she was advised to take it slowly at first, not to run all the time but to go to a fast walk, then back to a run. “I had to start out very slowly because I would go 25 feet and be out of breath,” she said.

When she indicated she was interested in running on behalf of someone, she said, “The Arthritis Foundation found Stephanie for me.”

During the marathon, participants can walk, run, or do a combination of both, Ms Gaffney noted. “If I can get into training to run, I’ll run the whole marathon,” she said.

Ms Gaffney began training with Joints in Motion on June 3, and now runs six days a week.

“I run a minimum of four and a half miles up to ten miles every day, which equals two to two and a half hours a day. I did nine miles last Friday.

“When I first started training, I got winded quickly,” she said. “I would walk, then fast walk. I had to get used to the breathing aspect. It is completely different than aerobics. I had never run before. I had difficulty with the breathing.”

Running created a new problem. “If you’re running, you’re not hungry. I found I have to eat more, and have more carbohydrates in my diet.” She also found how important it is to stretch before and after running.

The Joints in Motion group trains together every other Saturday at different locations, such as Derby State Park and in Stratford. “You have to map out an area so you get hydrated every mile and a half. You have to do a loop.”

In addition to running or walking during group sessions, there is personalized instruction. The trainer makes a log of each person’s progress, such as how many miles are run and whether there has been fatigue or any injuries.

“The trainer is available at all times,” Ms Gaffney said. “Anytime you need him he’s there for us.”

The final training session with the group will be on October 14.

Ms Gaffney is scheduled to leave for Dublin on October 26. Airfare, hotel accommodations, pre and post marathon parties, and Joints in Motion running apparel are provided by the Arthritis Foundation.

Six thousand people ran or walked in the Dublin marathon last year to benefit the Arthritis Foundation and other organizations.

On October 30, Ms Gaffney will run her first marathon on behalf of Stephanie and to support research for the cure and prevention of arthritis, but she needs donations to meet her goal. Once in the marathon, people will be stationed along the route to cheer on the runners, she said.

“I just want to finish,” Ms Gaffney said. “I want to cross the finish line smiling.”

For more information about the Dublin Marathon, call Ms Gaffney at 426-0023.