Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Repulse Bay (July 06/05) - When asked how long she has been playing sports, 20-year-old Sheila Kadjuk replies, "I can't remember."

The warm temperatures in Hawaii will be hard for Sheila Kadjuk to adjust to when she is running a marathon there in December. The Repulse Bay resident is collecting pledges for diabetes research before leaving. Anyone who wants to donate can find her at the Northern store. - photo courtesy of Northern store

While running a 26-mile-long marathon in Hawaii this December, her lifetime of exercise will be an asset.

Kadjuk is travelling to Honolulu with Team Diabetes of the Canadian Diabetes Association.

The marathon, organized by the organization, raises money for diabetes research, services and education.

After hearing about the marathon last month from her manager at the Northern store, Kadjuk decided to apply to help people afflicted by diabetes, including her uncle.

"When I told him, he was happy. He's doing everything he can to help me," Kadjuk said.

Her entire family and community members have been supportive, Kadjuk said.

Training hard

Ten miles is what Kadjuk runs now, but not every day. She runs when she is not too tired.

She based her training regime on the hamlet's annual Canada Day run from town out to Water Lake - also known as Nuviqsutuyuk Lake - and back.

Kadjuk has never run the a marathon, but plans on increasing the distance she runs as the event approaches.

The cold weather of a Nunavut winter will not stop her from training, but for Kadjuk, who has never travelled farther south than Winnipeg, Man., it will be hard to adjust to the climate in Hawaii.

December temperatures in Honolulu can hit 30C by 10 a.m., according to the association's website. She is looking forward to seeing the tropics, and raising money for a good cause.

"I would like to raise about $5,000," Kadjuk said.

So far, she has less than $1,000 in pledges.

Anyone interested in pledging can find Kadjuk at the Northern store in Repulse Bay.

The Northern store is paying for her travel to southern Canada, where she will meet up with the rest of Team Diabetes to fly to Hawaii. Kadjuk will spend seven nights there before returning home.

The Honolulu marathon is one of several Team Diabetes marathons held around the world.

With more than 25,000 participants in past years, it is one of the largest.