Participants in marathons do so for different reasons – to qualify for the Boston Marathon, for the love of running, to improve themselves and other reasons.

But for Ron Smock, Syracuse and thousands of other who will be participating in the 2014 Detroit Free Press/Talmer Bank Marathon, on Oct. 18-19, there are additional reasons.

This event is for people from all walks of life, not just elite runners. While some may be participating to honor a loved one, celebrate weight loss, show they have overcome tremendous odds, Smock is running with others to raise funds for a specific charity.

Smock will be running to raise funds for the Barbara Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. He will be participating in the Detroit International Half-Marathon. For him pace and splits are not going to be important, it is the funds he will be able to raise.

He was invited to participate in the race by his sister, Dianne Smock, who will be a part of her church group raising funds for clean water in third world countries. When he took a look at the charities funds could be raised for, the Barbara Karmanos Cancer Institute caught his eye.

It was an organization he was familiar with. The wife of his friend and business partner was a participant in drug trials for her stage 4 lung cancer. Through those trials she has been improving or remaining stable for almost two years. Unfortunately other health issues have made her unacceptable for the program and she was dropped. However, she has found another program, the Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, for treatments.

Smock began his campaign to raise funds for KCI in early October. The goal for those on the KCI team was to raise $10,000, for research into new drug trials. That goal has been surpassed. Smock, himself, has raised approximately $5,375.

Drug trials are important and funds are needed by KCI to keep trials going, for research and keeping people alive.

Smock noted the first $100 is in memory of his and his wife Donnette’s son John Thomas Hall, who fought his own battle with cancer.

Individuals can still give donations to help eradicate cancer and give someone an opportunity to win the battle.

Donations can be made by going to https://www.crowdrise.com/bakarmanosdetroitmarathon2014/fundraiser/ronsmock