NEW BERLIN – Long distance runner Thomas Lawson will be competing in a 70-mile Half-Full Ironman race Oct. 3, hoping to raise $5,000 for cancer research through the Livestrong Foundation and the Ulman Cancer Research Fund.

Although Lawson says the event only calls for a minimum donation of a $1,000, he hopes to raise far more and is reaching out to local businesses and citizens to help raise money to combat cancer.

“I wanted to go and do something for a cause, so I began looking at different things I might support. At the time I honestly didn’t think cancer affected my life, but after having a few conversations with people close to me, I realized there were more than a dozen family members who’ve have died from it or have it. As I began talking more about it, my neighbors and friends also began sharing their cancer survivor stories. Now everywhere I go I can’t help but notice the effect it’s had on people’s lives. It’s probably affected your life in some way, even if you don’t know it,” he said.

Typically Half-Full Ironman events are 70.3 miles, but organizers shorted the race to 70 miles to bring attention to the national statistic that 70,000 new young adults are diagnosed with cancer each year.

The event still consists of a .9 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run.

The Livestrong Foundation and the Ulman Cancer Research Fund are co-sponsoring the event, which will be held in Ellicott City, Maryland. Donations for the event can be received up until the day of the race, Oct. 3.

To donate, call Lawson directly at 847-6311, or go the not-for-profit Livestrong fund raising web site at fundraising.livestrong.org/teamls2010/thomaslawson.

Lawson explained he wanted to raise money for a good cause since running in a special 5K run in Cooperstown.

The ‘One of Our Own’ benefit was held last fall in honor of fellow 1987 New Berlin high school graduate, Sgt. Michael Friot, who passed away this summer of throat cancer.