Friends, family to run marathon for Island woman with sick son

Some of them had never run before in their lives. One woman didn't even own a pair of sneakers.

But six weeks ago,AdrienBernard Sherry ofKensington, P.E.I., an experienced runner, convinced other friends and family of PaulaPickeringand her son JacobCostainto form a team to enter the Prince Edward IslandMarathon relay.

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Jacob, two years old, has a rare form of leukemiathat wasdiagnosed just over a year ago. His mother, Paula, took Jacob to the IWK hospital in Halifax and Toronto's Hospital for Sick Childrenfor the past year, rarely visiting home or seeing her other child, Sophia, who isin Grade 7on P.E.I.

I am in awe of those that are running and sending their love and support our way. Paula Pickering

"Paula and Jacob have had a tremendously difficult past year," said Sherry, noting Jacob has had two bone marrow transplants.

It's not a fundraiser, but rather"away to soothe her soul on the rough days.

"Hopefully the pictures and things will bring a smile to her face," Sherry said.

'In her name'

Sherry, 39, began running in 2011, joining a local running group called The Island Girls, along with Pickering.

"Paula's first marathon was the P.E.I. marathon," explains Sherry. "I thought it might be a nice way to put a smile on her face if her family and close friends came together and did that exact same route, and did it in her name."

The group had T-shirts made for a benefit for Jacob last year they'vehad their marathon team name, Paula Strong, emblazoned on the back.

"We're going to run, walk, crawl the 42.2 kilometres to the finish line!" Sherry said.

'Muddle through'

Sherry's mother, who's in her 60s, immediately began training five days a week to walk her leg of the relay. Pickering's mother and her partner are walking too. Pickering's sister the one without sneakers is going to attempt to run her 2.7-km portionwithout having trained.

Sherry herself has taken the lion's share of the burden: she'll run the first three relay legs by herself 19 kilometres.

"I can muddle through!" Sherry exclaims. "The way we're looking at it isPaula had no choice but to muddle through this, day in and day out whether she wants to or not."

The team created a lanyard to use as a baton to hand off at the relay, with a picture of Pickering and her kids and the words, "With every step of this 42.2 kilometres, we will say a prayer for strength, for courage and for health. Paula, you are an inspiration to us, and Jacob is our little super-hero. We love you."

'In awe'

"I am in awe of those that are running and sending their love and support our way," Pickering said from the IWK in Halifax, noting Sherry and the rest of her family and friends have been a huge support for her the past year.

"I wish we could be there to see the team cross the finish line."

Pickering is hoping to be able to bring Jacob home this week, at least for a while athird bone marrow transplant is being planned for summer 2017.

Sherry ran Halifax'sBlue Nose half-marathon in the spring, dedicating it to Pickering's daughter Sophia, who has lived back on P.E.I. without her mother for the last year.

She and other friends and fellow runners have also run several other races dedicated to Jacob.

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