NEW BERLIN – Long distance runner Thomas Lawson will be competing in a 70-mile Half-Full Ironman race Oct. 3, hoping to raise $5,000 for cancer research through the Livestrong Foundation and the Ulman Cancer Research Fund.

Although Lawson says the event only calls for a minimum donation of a $1,000, he hopes to raise far more and is reaching out to local businesses and citizens to help raise money to combat cancer.

“I wanted to go and do something for a cause, so I began looking at different things I might support. At the time I honestly didn’t think cancer affected my life, but after having a few conversations with people close to me, I realized there were more than a dozen family members who’ve have died from it or have it. As I began talking more about it, my neighbors and friends also began sharing their cancer survivor stories. Now everywhere I go I can’t help but notice the effect it’s had on people’s lives. It’s probably affected your life in some way, even if you don’t know it,” he said.

Typically Half-Full Ironman events are 70.3 miles, but organizers shorted the race to 70 miles to bring attention to the national statistic that 70,000 new young adults are diagnosed with cancer each year.

The event still consists of a .9 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run.