Rogan brothers run for their dad
On the morning of Saturday, June 4, two brothers will test their grit against 31.07 miles of trail. Racing in the Northface Endurance Challenge, Rory and Andrew Rogan will find themselves among hundreds of other runners preparing to scale the streams, hills, rocks and dirt of Great Falls Regional Park in Virginia. Considered an ultra-marathon, the 50K race will test the brothers' strength while also supporting their efforts to raise money for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma through a foundation called HEADstrong.
“It’s a run for strength and hope,” said Rory Rogan. The brothers' father, Ched Rogan, was diagnosed with lymphoma in summer 2009. Lymphoma, a type of cancer, attacks the body’s lymph nodes and is due to abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. In the first stages of treatment, Ched, a ship captain, chose to use an injection called Rituxan. However, he recently was rediagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, a more aggressive form of the disease. “We wanted to test ourselves while also raising money for our dad and others like him,” the brothers said.
Andrew and Rory grew up running; both graduated from Cape Henlopen High School and participated in a variety of sports. After graduating from James Madison University in 2009, Andrew works for PNC Bank while also lifeguarding for Delaware State Parks. Rory, a junior, attends the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., where he played Division 3 lacrosse for two years before deciding to devote this year to training for the ultra.
The money the Rogans raise through their run will go to HEADstrong, a foundation created in 2005 by Nicholas Colleluori, who was a lacrosse player at Hofstra. Diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Nicholas fought a 14-month battle with the disease. While undergoing a wide variety of treatments, he was determined to start a foundation that would support the blood cancer community. As a result, he created HEADstrong before passing away Nov. 28, 2006.
As the brothers race up and down the winding trail along the Potomac River, they will be cheered on by a number of friends and family members including their mother and father, Ann and Ched Rogan, as well as their younger brother, Jeffrey. They will also have the support of the 157 people who have donated to their cause, which thus far has helped them raise more than $10,000.
The brothers say they found it hard to be anything but inspired by the motivating words of the many people who donated and will be carrying that inspiration as well as thoughts for their dad as they run. When asked how they will tap into the motivation and drive to complete the grueling 31.07-mile race, Andrew said, “With the desire to test the human body and the ability to believe in a brighter tomorrow.”
Through their efforts the brothers hope to raise $15,000 for the HEADstrong foundation. To help the Rogan brothers support their dad and the thousands of others who are fighting the disease have a brighter tomorrow, go to www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/headstrong/washington-dc/team. Each dollar is a step toward a brighter tomorrow.
