KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News-Central Coast Man Runs For Charity

Central Coast Man Runs For Charity

6/29/09

SANTA BARBARA - A Santa Barbara man is going for a jog that will take him halfway across the country to challenge himself, and raise money for a cause close to his heart.

Dustin Hucks is running to Texas, and on the way he wants to raise one million dollars for the American Cancer Society.

Hucks begins his journey in August, more than 1,200 miles from Los Angeles to his hometown Lubbock, Texas. He expects to finish in about a month. A book called "Born to Run" inspired Hucks to start running again, and he decided to run home in support of the American Cancer Society after his aunt was diagnosed with stage-four Lymphoma.

"You can't beat up Cancer," said Hucks. "There's nothing you can really do about it other than just sit, or in my case, I decided I wanted to run."

"It's so impressive that someone has the stamina and determination to do something like that, and obviously so honored and touched he thought of the American Cancer society," said Miranda Schmidt, of the American Cancer Society.

Hucks wants to raise a million dollars, so far he has collected about $300.

Representatives from the American Cancer Society said whatever the amount he ends up earning will go toward research and services for people battling the disease, including Hucks' aunt, and patients on the Central Coast.

Hucks is working with a running coach and has been training throughout Santa Barbara.

If you want to follow his big run, or donate to the American Cancer Society, visit followtherun.org.