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April 20, 2010

Many people have daydreams of weaving in and out of a crowd of exhausted runners and sprinting across the finish with one last burst of adrenaline to win the Boston marathon. However, some people, like Mike McBride, are content to just survive the harrowing road race.

Mike McBride, the last man to cross the finish line at last year's Boston Marathon, tied on his running shoes and hit the road again this year, with his Oxygen tank rolling along behind him.

McBride suffers from a serious lung ailment, but he made a point of finishing the event last year, and intended to do it again at this year's race, according to Boston.com.

"If I were doing this for the glory, I’d be disappointed because there’s nobody there to heap the rewards on me - but that’s not why I do it," McBride, a Colorado native, told the news source. "Any time you do something that not a lot of people will ever do, that’s an adrenaline rush right there. For me it's spiritual, it's humbling. It’s a pride thing, too. It's a lot of things. I want more of it."

Those who suffer from a lung disease can still endeavor to live thriving, healthy lives despite their ailment. Eating a healthy diet, not smoking, getting exercise and taking advantage of the resources offered through the American Lung Association (ALA) may enhance their quality of life.

According to the organization, studies suggest that air pollution is linked to many lung diseases as well as heart disease, cancer, asthma, other illnesses, and even death. Individuals should be mindful of the air quality in their communities.

Those who wish to donate time or funds to the cause can contact the ALA for volunteer opportunities.

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