US Marathoner Runs 350km in 7 Days to Support Grandmother Who Had COVID-19

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] An American marathon runner ran 350 km over 7 days to cheer on his 98-year-old grandmother who contracted COVID-19, according to reports by The Washington Post (WP) and others on the 25th (local time).

According to the reports, marathoner Cory Capelloni departed from his home in Washington DC on the 12th and arrived at a nursing home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on the 19th, after 7 days. This place is Capelloni's hometown, where his grandmother, Ruth Andres, was staying. When he arrived, the nursing home staff gathered and welcomed him by waving purple balloons, flags, and placards.

Capelloni, though breathing heavily, did not lose his smile. Standing in front of the nursing home, he looked up at the fourth-floor window and shouted through his phone and microphone, "Grandma, you are a strong person. You are turning 99 now, and there are many more paths ahead." Due to safety concerns, he could not enter the nursing home, but he said the day would come soon when they could share the long-awaited hug.

Capelloni's grandmother, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, had to see her grandson through the window. Below the window, a sign reading "I love you, Cory" was placed as a welcome greeting.

Capelloni said he called his grandmother every day but decided to run after hearing her voice gradually weaken. He said, "Grandma became a bit depressed because she couldn't meet family or friends," adding, "I thought I had to do something to lift her spirits."

The distance Capelloni ran was 350 km, more than eight times the length of a full marathon (42.195 km). Although he had previously completed a 251 km marathon in Morocco, he faced a critical point on the sixth day this time. Despite exhaustion and injury, he regained strength after receiving a text message that his grandmother had recovered and continued running, foreign media reported.

Using this marathon as an opportunity, Capelloni launched an online fundraiser for elderly people isolated due to COVID-19 and has raised $24,800 (approximately 29 million KRW) as of the 25th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.