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After years of extreme challenges, both on-and-off the course, Linda Quirk is lacing up for one of the most heralding adventures of her life – seven marathons on seven continents. At 55 years of age and a grandmother of three, Linda is embarking on an eleven-month journey around the world in hopes of raising national awareness and one million dollars for Caron treatment centers – a comprehensive addiction treatment provider that helped her stepdaughter achieve long-term health and recovery from chemical dependency.
Linda’s journey starts with the nation’s premier Boston marathon April 2008 and continues on to China, Easter Island, Africa, Iceland, Australia and Antarctica. During the next several months Linda will experience the harshest running conditions a runner could face, from desert heat to sub-zero temperatures, in order to raise money for Caron’s addiction treatment scholarships.
In 1988 Linda ran her first marathon in Los Angeles and claims, “After crossing the finish line I had such an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and joy that I just knew I would have to do it again.” That day marked the beginning of what would become a lifelong passion. Over the years Linda has gone on to run many more marathons including Big Sur, Alaska and Berlin. She has also completed numerous extreme races including many Ironman full, half and Olympic distance triathlons, including: Ironman Florida, Long Course Worlds in Sweden (ninth in age group), Ironman Lanzarote (second in age group), Ironman World Championships, Kona Hawaii and Ironman 70.3 Worlds in Clearwater, Florida.
While training for the Ironman in Kona, HI Linda decided to help Caron’s Renaissance Institute of Palm Beach raise addiction treatment scholarship funds for families in need. Linda saw this as an opportunity to give back to Caron, whose innovative approach to treatment for chemical dependency was so instrumental in providing for her stepdaughter’s long-term health and on-going recovery. Linda’s fundraising endeavor raised $52,000 and gave her something powerful to run for: she crossed the finish line with both granddaughters in her arms and friends and family there in support. In the mix of family and friends, Linda regrouped with her stepdaughter, who was in recovery for two years, her two sons and husband. “We had tears in our eyes,” recalls Linda. “It was a very emotional moment for all of us.”
Like all her life experiences, it took hard work and dedication to train for and compete in another race. This motivation attest to her personal motto, “If you SEE IT, you can do it and if you BELIEVE IT, it will happen….DREAM BIG!” Follow Linda through this amazing journey on Run7On7.com.
Linda now lives in Florida with her husband and has three children and three grandchildren.
She runs everyday.
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