Forced to deal with testing HIV-positive, Ann Arbor resident Don Hubbard chose to fight back with his feet rather than surrender.
Hubbard, a nationally recognized mid-distance runner in the 1960s, will fulfill a lifetime dream by running a 26.2-mile marathon in a benefit called "Go The Distance" on Saturday. The founder of the benefit, Hubbard's run will be solo.
Hubbard has received pledges totaling $2,300. He hopes to reach $3,000 before the run this weekend at the Michigan Race Track.
Hubbard credits his idea for the marathon to the HIV/AIDS Resource Center.
"HARC is a wonderful organization with very helpful people for anyone who has HIV or AIDS. They help with legal and personal issues," Hubbard said.
HARC also provides a food bank, free HIV testing and educational programs on how to prevent the spread of HIV.
"They're a group of selfless individuals who work very hard to help the public. I thought that I could give back by running a marathon for much-needed funding," Hubbard said.
Diagnosed with the virus in 1989, Hubbard's thoughts were originally less optimistic.
"When I first found out, everything about it seemed like a death sentence and I dwelled on it. I thought that my life was over. Why was this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?" Hubbard said. "There was not a lot of hope for me at the time. I finally came to the point where I had to do something instead of just give in to the disease."
Hubbard has been training 4 1/2 months for this marathon. He plans to walk 105 laps around the University of Michigan's race track to complete the total distance of a marathon.
Michigan cross country coach Ronald Warhurst, a friend of Hubbard's, said he supports his quest to complete the marathon.
"It is a terrible disease that affects many people. I wish him the best of luck and hopefully he will be able to reach the goals that he has set for himself," Warhurst said.
Hubbard has set specific goals for this benefit.
"The two main goals are for first for myself to personally complete the distance of a marathon race. Secondly to raise money to support the efforts of the U-M's Atheletic Department and the Ann Arbor Jaycees Foundation in their efforts to bring the Names Project AIDS Memorial quilt to Ann Arbor next February," Hubbard said.
Hubbard also hopes to honor the work of HARC and to make more people more aware of the great risk of HIV.
"I feel like the marathon is a way of honoring the memory of people who died from AIDS or anyone who is currently living with the disease." Hubbard said.
"I also think it's important to keep spreading the message of what can happen if you aren't careful. People still think that they are invincible. They're foolish to think this but they still do."
LSA sophomore Danielle Taubman said that even educated students sometimes think they are immune to the disease.
"It's ridiculous how people think they can magically escape HIV. Some people still think they're protected from everything and don't think twice about the harsh consequences it can have on not only themselves but their family members and friends," Taubman said.
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WARREN ZINN/Daily
Runner Don Hubbard sits on the Michigan track yesterday.