SEA ISLE CITY – Daniel “Dan” McCann hopes to run a marathon on each continent, leaving each country where it takes place a “little bit better.”
On March 4, he takes his dream to the fourth continent in his quest when he runs a marathon in Tanzania and then climbs Africa’s highest (19,341 feet) peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise awareness and funds for educating street children in Uganda.
With his girlfriend Kate MacCready, of Meyersville, Pa., the duo realize their ability to run, walk and climb a mountain is “a privilege, not a right,” and “we hope that maybe we can inspire someone else” by doing something positive.
“When I was younger,” 31-year-old McCann said, “I was a lifeguard and would be in rowing competitions all the time. Running is a little easier because you don’t need all the equipment and you can really enjoy the outdoors.”
So far, he has run marathons in North America, the Ocean Drive Marathon in Cape May County (Cape May to Sea Isle City) was his first, Asia (on the Great Wall in China) and Europe (in Ireland).
As a 10-year-old, McCann recalled going to Guatemala with his mother on a mission to help at an orphanage. “It made a lasting impression on me,” he said. “I’ve been able to do some traveling and see different parts of the world, and I hope I can have a positive impact on a stranger’s life in the places I’ve been.”
After college, he raised funds for the National Autism Society by rowing from Miami to Sea Isle City.
He was inspired by the number of people who contacted him during that effort, including one person who said he was going to start walking daily to do something positive for himself.
“I’m also a Special Olympics coach. Anyone who has been involved with that program knows how emotionally involved you can get,” he said.
“There is such positive energy all around. God has been good in giving me physical and mental capabilities that I know not everyone has. I just want to help make the places I’ve been a little better,” he added.
MacCready’s sister-in-law, Molly, started the Child Restoration Outreach Support Organization (CROSO) after spending a college semester in Uganda, helping a non-governmental organization invite children off the streets and giving them the tools necessary to reintegrate into society.
The children were provided with food, counseling, access to medical care, housing and support to attend school through the organization, called Child Restoration Outreach (CRO).
When Molly MacCready returned home, she shared her stories and experiences with her hometown community of Chicago and found people wanted to help.
That’s when she founded the 501(c) (3) organization, CROSO that connects the resources and generosity of donors in the United States with the needs of C.R.O.’s secondary-school graduates in Uganda. CROSO provides funds for post-secondary education for the Uganda students, and it is through that organization that McCann and MacCready are raising funds (https://www.youcaring.com/croso-1064970) by running and climbing in Africa.
They plan to spend 12 days in Tanzania, acclimating to the hot African weather before the marathon and their first-ever mountain climb.
“The snow has provided some help for us as we prepare for the top of the mountain,” McCann said about the recent local weather. “It stands 19,341 feet and is about 232 miles from the Equator. We’ll experience quite a change in temperatures as we make the climb.
“I guess you can say we’re taking a positive extreme approach by climbing the mountain and running the marathon, but we want to take advantage of the opportunity and our ability to help others,” he added. “I’ve been blessed beyond belief with my parents and growing up in such a great supportive community, so I am so glad that we are able to help out a little.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.
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