In 2001, little did Roger Bricco know that an afternoon run would evolve into a passion or, more importantly, a mission. Zealous about the sport, Roger trained and ran in the 2004 Country Music Marathon. Roger’s mom and dad, Mary and Ron Bricco, proudly witnessed that their son’s time nearly qualified for the Boston Marathon. Their presence was especially inspiring for Roger as his dad, Ron, was enduring an extreme challenge of his own. Ron had been undergoing a year of extensive treatment for mesothelioma, an uncommon form of lung cancer. Roger claims his parents’ presence that day spurred him on to his best time yet.
Persistently returning to The Country Music Marathon in 2005, Roger qualified for the 2006 Boston Marathon. More touching to Roger than this achievement was his father’s tremendous pride in him throughout the challenge. An avid sportsman who fished and hunted, Ron first shared his son’s marathon success with everyone he met, not news of his own battle. Determined to honor his father’s memory, shortly after his father’s death in August 2005, Roger began his campaign, Running for Ron. He is raising funds for The Foundation while training intensely for the April 17th Boston Marathon.
“Throughout these marathon challenges and my dad’s declining health, I have felt compelled to work even harder to pursue my running goals, as if I were running for both of us,” Roger says.
