Marathoner runs for others' health

Ernest Lewis with good friend Paula Massey, whom he honors in the marathons he runs.

He runs, and runs, and runs in humid weather, in the rain, in the wind, and in the hot sun.

Ernest Lewis has been running in marathon after marathon, some with straight paths, others with hills.

And it's all in support of cancer patients. He is slated to run in the Oil Creek 100 Ultra-marathon in Titusville, Pa., on Oct. 13 as a volunteer for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other cancers from taking more lives. His goal is to complete the Oil Creek 100 in 24 hours and to raise $5,000.

Mr. Lewis ran 84.5 miles of the 100-mile race last year. He said that he keeps on running even when he doesn't feel like it. His inspiration comes from the many honorees who are in chemotherapy treatments, so the inconvenience of a little bad weather and running don't seem so bad.

For inspiration he carries a list of 140 people with cancer. The list includes Paula Massey, a three-time cancer survivor who is in her fourth round of chemo for non-Hodgkins lymphoma; his mother, Nga Gnass, a survivor of breast cancer; his friend Karen Landis, survivor of breast cancer; his late friend Karen Hylan, victim of a brain tumor; various relatives, and Jason Mazur, who was just diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma.

He is glad to add anyone with cancer to the list of honorees.

To make a donation or for more information go to http://pages.teamintraining.org/noh/RoadRun12/ernestlewis or call Ernest A. Lewis at 419-345-4254. Checks can be made out to: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 3936 Elmhurst Rd., Toledo, 43613.

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland came back to his hometown July 21 to reunite with classmates at the 53rd Perrysburg High School Reunion of the Class of 1959. The surprise visit was at the historic Carranor Hunt and Polo Club. After the Tigers game that night, Jimbo, as his friends call him, came to the reunion where he was surprised as well with friends he had not seen in many moons, including Jerry Glanville, former coach of the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons. They all played sports together in their youth with many other classmates, including Jim Hufford. Event chairman Kay Flack said their class is very proud of graduates who remember their roots.

Lt. Col. Aaron Koenigseker, son of Norm and Joanne Koenigseker of Sylvania, was home for a visit and took time to speak at the Sylvania Rotary meeting July 19 at Mancy's Italian Grille. Colonel Koenigseker, 42, completed three tours in Iraq and is an instructor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he lives with his wife, Angela.

He said through his military service he has gained many skills, including leadership, management, training, emergency management, personal communications, security operations, and problem-solving. But on this day, he talked about a non-military experience: Tough Mudder, a course designed for mental toughness, grit, and camaraderie all while enduring the physical challenge. It's not for everyone, but it certainly toughens up men and women who are up for the challenge and part of the proceeds benefited the Wounded Warrior Project.

Proud parents, the Koenigsekers were glad to share their son's time with area friends.