A math and economics teacher, as well as the coordinator of Ambassadors for Christ Corps, Mr. Tom Rickling is an avid runner. However, he runs for a purpose. He plans to raise money for cancer foundations in honor of his parents by running a goal distance of 2,012 miles in the year 2012.

With a recently produced video featured on Cathedral Catholic’s El Cid Online called 2012 in 2012, Mr. Ricking hopes to get the word across to all who are interested.

Produced, directed, filmed, and edited by Cathedral’s 2011 graduate Kevin Santos, this powerful video says it all. For Mr. Rickling, however, sharing his personal story and motives for running 2,012 miles in 2012 was a wildly new experience.

“I was kind of going out of my comfort zone when we made the video. I personally don’t like publicity, but more importantly, the main goal of the video was to hopefully spread the word and to get more people to donate and help this cause,” Mr. Rickling said.

As of now, Mr. Rickling has passed the 1,600 mile mark and is ahead of schedule. “I am trying to get ahead of pace because I know I will have days when I am sick or injured, so staying ahead helps me out.”

The original goal for donations was set at $10,000, but since over $9,000 has been donated, $15,000 is the newly set goal. Donations will go to both the Michael J. Fox foundation and the American Cancer Society. The money donated is in honor of Mr. Rickling’s mother and father.

Mr. Rickling’s father overcame a previous diagnosis of throat cancer and now suffers from Parkinson’s disease, and his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago.

As said in the video along with a picture of his mom and dad, “These are the two main reasons why I am doing this- raising money for Parkinson’s and Cancer research.”

When running, Mr. Rickling has many inspirations to motivate him to keep going. When wanting to stop, he picks different people out in which he chooses to run for.

Some of his main motivators are Cathedral Catholic’s Tehya Tatiana, Derek Thomas, Ronan Nelson, Natalie Nield, and Amanda Post. His biggest supporter and inspiration is his father, who always claims he wishes he could be there running beside him as well.

As far as a set goal as to when he will cross the finish line, Rickling hopes to finish by mid December, around the time in which we get out for Christmas vacation.

“Motivation is key,” Mr. Rickling said. “However, it’s still kind of hard when you know that you don’t really have to be doing what you’re doing, but you’re doing it because you want to.”

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Buy a Spirit Day Acceptable T-shirt for $20 –

Email  [email protected]  or drop by D108.