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Half Marathon
Jeffrey Lee, left, before he lost 200 pounds and Lee after, right. Photo contributed by Jeffrey Lee.
Jeffrey Lee always was active. His size often got in the way.
In the past two years, however, that has changed.
The para-professional at The Woodstock Academy has dropped more than 200 pounds in that time and has discovered a new passion. Running.
“As I started losing weight and exercise became easier, running is almost like meditative to me. I go out, zone out and do so three or four times a week, and three or four miles at a time,” Lee said. “
In March, he ran the 13.1- mile New Bedford half-marathon. “It was a shock that I did it,” Lee said.
Confident in his ability, Lee will attempt another such feat in October and he’s doing it for a good cause.
Lee will be participating in the Run for Dana-Farber Boston Athletic Association half-marathon on Oct. 13 in Boston for a good cause.
He is part of the Dana-Farber team and will be helping to raise money for the Boston cancer clinic and the Jimmy Fund.
There is a local connection as well. Woodstock Academy freshman Lilly Sharpe learned last year that she had leukemia. She has been treated at Dana-Farber and Lee actively raised money to offset the cost of Lilly’s treatment at Dana-Farber.
According to Lee, Lilly is doing well but is still undergoing active treatment for the disease.
“I asked Deb (Lilly’s mother) when I originally saw the info about the run and saw that it sponsored the clinic and I know they go up there two or three times a week, ‘Can I run in honor of Lilly?’ She was floored and said ‘Absolutely’ so I created the hashtag #Runforlilly,” Lee said.
It was also the name of a running team Lee established for Lilly.
He had to raise $750 to be part of the Dana-Farber team. The Boston native set his personal goal to be $1000.
He has almost reached that, having been pledged $980 as of late last week.
It has spurred him on to try and reach new heights, namely the first awarded tier of $1500.
Those who wish to donate to the effort can do so at: http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/Runforlilly.
The course Lee will be running in October is of the up-and-back variety with the turnaround point being near the Dana-Farber clinic which Lee feels is only fitting.
He said he averaged a nine-minute mile in New Bedford, finishing in two hours, 15 minutes.
“That’s not blazing, but it’s not slow,” the 31-year-old said. “My goal is to get a two-hour, half-marathon.
“My ultimate goal is to run the Boston Marathon, that’s an elite race. But maybe by this time next year, I will try to run a full marathon,” Lee said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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