Angela Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 19/02) - Lori Mac Millan and Melissa Guyot will head to Dublin, Ireland, Oct. 28 to participate in that city's annual marathon.

But Mac Millan and Guyot aren't just running for fun, they're running for a cause.

"We're running for the Canadian Diabetes Association," said Guyot.

They will be running the 42-kilometre marathon with about 120 other Canadians who are part of Team Diabetes Canada.

Mac Millan and Guyot said they found out about the marathon and Team Canada through a brochure they spotted while volunteering in a booth at the mall for the local Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) chapter.

"We decided we would do it together," said Guyot.

The pair filled out the registration form and mailed it to the CDA national office in Toronto.

Right now, Mac Millan and Guyot are in training for the marathon.

"We're running about three times a week," said Guyot.

They also get training tips online as well as some other training assistance from Body Work's Francis Chang, who organizes training for marathons for the general public.

The pair plan to raise $11,000 before mid-September.

More than 60 per cent of funds raised will go directly to diabetes research. Mac Millan said they have a long way to go yet.

"We're about a third of the way there."

Both said they became interested in diabetes because someone in their family has had the disease.

"Both my grandparents had it," said Guyot. "My grandfather passed away 10 years ago from complications from diabetes."

"I had one cousin who was one-and-a-half years old when she was diagnosed with diabetes."

Paul Hanna, president of the Canadian Diabetes Association's NWT Chapter, said he's thrilled the women are running.

"It's great to have them running and representing the Canadian Diabetes Association," he said.

"A lot of money will be raised for awareness and for working on a cure for diabetes so it's really great."