Mike Lightfoot, First UMC, Richardson, marathon runner

South Africa run dedicated to ‘something great’

BY MIKE LIGHTFOOT
First UMC, Richardson


Editor’s note: The following reflection was written by First UMC, Richardson, worship and music director Mike Lightfoot, who will be participating in a rigorous marathon in South Africa on May 24.

Have you ever wanted to do something truly great? When I say great I mean something that is so big it seems almost impossible. And something that would change thousands of lives, now that would be great, wouldn’t it?

Well, that’s exactly what I plan to do this spring, something great!  I have decided to run one of the great footraces in Africa on May 24. I will leave on May 18 and return May 28. This is a 56-mile ultra marathon called the “Comrades Ultra-Marathon.”

Yes, you heard right, it’s a 56-mile race with a 12 hour time limit, run through a mountainous region of South Africa. I have run five marathons, so this isn’t totally crazy…is it?

I began thinking about this race after reading a story of its history and thinking about the challenge that comes with running this far under a strict time l imit on the continent that is known for running. This will test me like nothing ever has. Also, the fact that I turned 50 this year made me think that I needed to do something extraordinary. Maybe I should just buy a sports car, right?

But, simply running this distance would be fruitless unless I could run with a purpose. Even if I were successful, what would be great about it? Then I found out about a United Methodist organization that uses all of their money to dig water wells for African villages that don’t have access to fresh water. Here are some statistics that made me realize how important water is:

• Every 15 seconds a person dies from a water related disease.
• One in every six people on the planet lives without regular access to safe drinking water.
• Over one third of the world’s population lacks access to proper sanitation.
• For children under age five, water related diseases are the leading cause of death.
• These infections kill over 2 million people every year,
• Safe water and proper sanitation can prevent most of these deaths.

It only costs $7,000 to provide an entire village with fresh drinking water, toilets and education on the use and care of their fresh water. Can you imagine the impact this will have on hundreds, even thousands of lives?

Over the past few months I have repeatedly talked myself out of this race. It’s too expensive…it’s too far to run…I can’t afford the time and effort it will take to train…I might get injured…I might die out there!

But every time I convinced myself of these things something kept coming back to me…it’s not always safe when you attempt to do something great, is it? So, I’m fi nally stepping out and saying that I will run this race. Yes, all of these arguments are valid but this is something I need to do.

While on retreat with the Worship Team in January, we began to envision an even bigger dream. Why not involve the entire staff? Let’s all push ourselves to do something great this year. So, the staff has agreed to take on an equally ambitious sacrifice.

The staff of First UMC, Richardson, will together run/walk 5,600 miles before I leave for Africa. This will take a great commitment on the part of each staff member but we are all committed to making the world a better place for others.

I visited with senior pastor Rev. Clayton Oliphint and Outreach and Missions Director, Rev. Joy Anderson, who gave full support of the church taking on this project. I am asking my church to help change lives immediately. And every penny collected will go to providing water for people who have never had fresh water.

I will run this race to honor my sick father, Bruce Lightfoot, who is fighting every day for his health, and to my mother, Margaret Lightfoot. A well (or two or three) will be dug in the name of First UMC, Richardson. I hope that anyone who goes online to donate will please take a moment to designate your gift in honor or in memory of someone. I am taking these names with me and carry them throughout the race.

This will be a great motivation as I begin to tire (at mile 10?) I challenged First UMC members that we are a large church and if every family gave $56 we could do something truly great together.

For more information, please either go online www.fumcr.com and select: PROJECT 56: It Is Well with My Sole, call Mike Lightfoot, 972-996-0213, or email:mlightfoot@fumcr.com.
 

PROJECT 56
‘It Is Well with My Sole’

• A 56 mile footrace in South Africa (diffi cult)
• A 5,600 mile challenge to the church staff (diffi cult)
• A $56 challenge to each family in the church (needed)
• Thousands of lives changed immediately? (GREAT!)