Senior Games runner defies cancer odds, runs 100 marathons

CLEARWATER, Fla. (FOX 13) - Hundreds of runners came together for the Senior Games in Clearwater and Tampa to close out 2018. But one racer's finishing time was hardly the story. Don Wright's most impressive feat is how much time he's added to the clock.

“When I’m standing on the start line I’m thinking mostly of people that I know who have died because of Multiple Myelom," says Don Wright. "The treatment for them didn’t come along in time.”

Wright remembers the day he received his diagnosis 15 years ago.

“I could expect to maybe live five years," he said. "We've run a hundred marathons in the interim. We've run a half or full marathon in every state.”

With doctor's telling him the end was near, Don credits modern medical research with allowing him to focus on a different finish line.

“Don’t believe the amount of time they tell you because it’s fairly likely they’ll come up with a new treatment in the interim. I'm on my fifth different regimen.” said Don.

The 77-year-old Minnesotan also receives a heavy dose of support. His wife Ardis and daughter Sarah run with him every step of the way.

“There are jokes about women not wanting their husbands to retire because they can’t stand to have them around," said his wife Ardis. "But this is just a precious, precious time that we weren’t sure we’d have.”

Don doesn't plan on ending his run anytime soon.

“I think there’s a pretty good chance that the regimen I’m on could keep me going for years,” he said.

Don took home a medal from the Senior Games. He's already qualified for the national Senior Games in New Mexico in June.

You can learn more about Don's mission here.