Mt. Pleasant resident runs Boston Marathon to benefit Old Threshers

MT. PLEASANT - Instead of the hilly terrain of Boston, Mt. Pleasant resident and marathon runner Luis Rosell will be taking on the gravel roads of the Midwest Old Threshers grounds on Labor Day.

Rosell was looking forward to participating in his fourth Boston Marathon when, following two postponements, the race was moved to a virtual-only format. Racers from around the world, who usually convene in the northeastern city for the oldest annual foot race, will be participating from their home states and countries.

'I run through Old Threshers at the beginnings and end of all my runs … I run mostly on shoulder and gravel. When you get old you don't want to run on pavement all the time,” the racer said about why he chose to run on the grounds. Rosell has marked out a one-mile loop that he will run 26 times this upcoming weekend.

The Mt. Pleasant resident began training to run marathons in 2011 after watching his wife, Michelle, and other friends compete.

'I ran my first one in 2012 on my 50th birthday,” he said.

Since then, Rosell has completed a total of 16 marathons and two Ironman races.

But running the Boston Marathon, in particular, is special.

'Not everybody can run it. There's two ways to go: you either have to be fast enough based on your age or your gender or you raise a lot of money for charity. I'm talking tens of millions of dollars,” Rosell said.

With both the postponement of the race to September and the marathon's history of charity, Rosell decided to use his virtual run as an opportunity to raise money for the Old Threshers Foundation, an organization that provides financial support to the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. His fundraiser is called Virtual Boston Marathon Comes to Old Threshers.

'I'm glad I'm not doing it for me - I'm doing it for a cause that everybody loves. Having lived here 21 years, it's something that I always look forward to, and I'm kind of bummed we're not having it,” Rosell said.

Especially because residents are missing out on the usual fanfare and excitement of the five-day event this week, Rosell hopes his run will encourage people to keep the Reunion in mind even if it is not taking place this year.

'Hopefully, the money people would have spent at Old Threshers, they can contribute, even just a portion, in a different way,” Rosell said.

Alan Huisinga, executive director of the foundation, said Rosell's decision to make his run a fundraiser for Old Threshers is 'an inspiration.”

'It just motivates the rest of us to get out there and keep working. Every little bit helps. It inspires us to keep charge, in a way, and put as much effort into this as we can,” Huisinga said.

The executive director added that he's excited to see so many people continue to do what they can to help the foundation and the event.

'My role will be to cheer him on. I'll let him do the running … His heart's in the right place and just to do this and inspire people to get donations can go a long ways,” he added.

Terry McWilliams, CEO of the Reunion, said Rosell's run is 'a neat thing,” and that the proceeds from the fundraiser would be beneficial to the Foundation.

Rosell originally set a goal of $1,000 but has quickly exceeded that amount. As of Wednesday morning, the runner has raised over $1,500.

'People can donate however much they feel like … I'm very pleased with the community's generosity. I hope we can get more and more people to contribute to a cause that is in everyone's heart,” he said.

Rosell plans to kick off his race at around 5:45 a.m. on Monday and plans to wrap up by 9:30 a.m. Community members are invited to watch Rosell run, cheer him on or even join in on segments of the marathon.

'I'm most looking forward to being finished and getting that medal,” he said.

Those interested in donating to the fundraiser can do so through its Facebook page or by sending donations directly to the Old Threshers Foundation.