BAKERSFIELD, CA - Talk about going the distance. A father is about to take part in a 135-mile non-stop charity run to support the Ronald McDonald House.
A local ultra-runner started the fundraiser last year running from the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald house to the one in Madera. This year, about sixty other runners are joining him, including that father.
Humberto Vargas knows slow and steady wins the race. He and his wife stayed in the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House, longer than any other family, 126 days, while their daughter, Julissa, was in the hospital. Now, he wants to give back.
"She's a miracle baby. I couldn't have asked anything else from God to let us keep her," said Vargas.
Vargas's prayers began the moment Julissa was born premature at just 25 weeks.
"She would fit in the palm of my hand basically she was so small, twelve inches and a half, one pound twelve ounces.
That's where the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House comes in. Instead of commuting from Wasco, the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House was the Vargas's home as they got to watch their little girl grow into a healthy baby.
"The doctor would call us at any given moment here and we would just run to the hospital which is just a few minutes, steps away," said Vargas.
Those steps are why Vargas is going to be taking thousands of his own. He's part of a team running in a 135-mile charity fundraiser from the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House to the one in Madera.
Jimmy Gavany was asked to direct the race this year since participants numbers swelled to sixty.
"So for me it's kind of giving back to a place I remember very vividly when I was a young kid," said Gavany.
David Thull, who started the mega-run, had no idea Gavany had spent time in a Ronald McDonald house when he was young and his brother was battling cancer.
"They do amazing things for families a lot of support. You can't, as far as I'm concerned one of the best charities in the planet and they hold a special place in my heart," said Gavany.
So when 135 miles seem impossible, Vargas will think about his daughter.
"Every, every single moment. Everyday when I get up and train I think about her and my other children," said Vargas.
Runners leave from the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House at 5:00 Saturday morning. Another group leaves at noon. They will arrive in Madera Sunday afternoon.
The money raised will be split between the two houses.
A local ultra-runner started the fundraiser last year running from the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald house to the one in Madera. This year, about sixty other runners are joining him, including that father.
Humberto Vargas knows slow and steady wins the race. He and his wife stayed in the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House, longer than any other family, 126 days, while their daughter, Julissa, was in the hospital. Now, he wants to give back.
"She's a miracle baby. I couldn't have asked anything else from God to let us keep her," said Vargas.
Vargas's prayers began the moment Julissa was born premature at just 25 weeks.
"She would fit in the palm of my hand basically she was so small, twelve inches and a half, one pound twelve ounces.
That's where the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House comes in. Instead of commuting from Wasco, the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House was the Vargas's home as they got to watch their little girl grow into a healthy baby.
"The doctor would call us at any given moment here and we would just run to the hospital which is just a few minutes, steps away," said Vargas.
Those steps are why Vargas is going to be taking thousands of his own. He's part of a team running in a 135-mile charity fundraiser from the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House to the one in Madera.
Jimmy Gavany was asked to direct the race this year since participants numbers swelled to sixty.
"So for me it's kind of giving back to a place I remember very vividly when I was a young kid," said Gavany.
David Thull, who started the mega-run, had no idea Gavany had spent time in a Ronald McDonald house when he was young and his brother was battling cancer.
"They do amazing things for families a lot of support. You can't, as far as I'm concerned one of the best charities in the planet and they hold a special place in my heart," said Gavany.
So when 135 miles seem impossible, Vargas will think about his daughter.
"Every, every single moment. Everyday when I get up and train I think about her and my other children," said Vargas.
Runners leave from the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House at 5:00 Saturday morning. Another group leaves at noon. They will arrive in Madera Sunday afternoon.
The money raised will be split between the two houses.