Running MdS for a Purpose: M (MARIANNE) DeMARCO

For what charity or cause are you running the 2008 Marathon des Sables?

Inwood House -- a maternity residence for pregnant unwed teens who are homeless or in the New York City foster care system.

Why did you decide to run with a purpose?

If I'm going to lose my toenails, I might as well do it for a cause. Not only is Inwood House the only maternity residence for homeless teens that accepts HIV infected girls, it has been helping pregnant teens with nowhere to go since 1835 -- so I know it's not some fly-by-night operation. I also work there, so I can see first hand that it works. It really does change lives. Plus I raised money for Inwood House last year by running the North Pole Marathon, so I had to try and top that one.

How can people contribute?
Go to http://www.americasnexttopwaddle.com/

Above:
M at the North Pole in 2007,
where she ran the North Pole Marathon
to raise money for Inwood House.