Amy Ruth Eck
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As an avid triathlete, Amy Ruth Eck is accustomed to competition. In fact, the thrill of overcoming obstacles is what fuels her to lead an active lifestyle and help others do the same, be it through leading free community fitness programs or sponsoring the annual Freedom Fest at Kualoa Ranch.
Right now the Kailua resident is in the midst of her biggest challenge to date: running for the title of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 2011 Woman of the Year. Even more exhilarating is the fact that she is the first person from Hawaii vying for this national honor.
“I have always enjoyed challenges and helping people,” says Eck, a U.S. Navy port engineer assigned to the USS Lake Erie. “I got involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society because I want to make a difference.”
She kicked off her campaign, Superheroes for a Cure, earlier this month and has until May 20 to reach her goal of raising $50,000 for cancer research.
“(The campaign) is an honor to all those people who are heroically fighting cancer and the Superheroes who are donating money to give them knowledge and support in their journey,” Eck explains. “I have always been inspired by the Team In Training presence at races and the number of people who rise up to do extraordinary things to honor those in need. We have one life to live, and in it we need to be doing all we can for others.”
Other inspirational “heroes” in Eck’s life include high school classmate Carol Colin, who came up with Superheroes for a Cause and raised $40,000 herself for LLS; Sheldon Plentovich, a professional kite boarder who has overcome acute myelogenous leukemia twice; and colleague Nathan Hedden, a Navy chief who is currently in remission after being diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma a few years ago.
“He is living large and says, ‘Go, Superheroes, and let’s kick some cancer butt!’” Eck says with an energetic smile.
To date, Eck has raised nearly $3,000 through her campaign and invites others to join the fight. Monetary donations can be made online at superheroesforacure.com or by mailing checks made payable to LLS to LSS-Superheroes for a Cure, 30 Aulike St., Suite 406, Kailua, HI 96734.
Another way to help out is by volunteering your time. Eck says she is looking for 200 volunteers to assist with the inaugural North Shore Marathon May 1, which would raise an additional $2,000 for the Superheroes.
Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to sign up or for more ideas on how to get invovled.
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