SALT LAKE CITY — Lee McCullough can’t save his granddaughters from the frustrations or dangers associated with Type 1 diabetes.
But as the Salt Lake lawyer contemplated how to celebrate his 70th birthday this year, he decided there was something he could do to not only show his granddaughters they weren’t alone in their fight, but also to help find better treatments, maybe even a cure.
The father of six and grandfather of 23 decided to run seven marathons in the year leading up to his 70th birthday this December while raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, more commonly known as JDRF, as it now encompasses adults living with Type 1 diabetes.
While he loved the challenge of training and running each marathon, he said it was even more rewarding to raise far more money than he ever expected for JDRF. In fact, he ended up being JDRF’s top fundraiser for Sunday’s New York Marathon, his seventh and final race.
“We are so proud of him and what he has done,” Scott McCullough said of his father. “He raised over $20,000 for this race for JDRF, which made him the top fundraiser in America for JDRF’s New York Marathon team.”
Lee chuckled when asked how his family reacted to his 70th birthday celebration and planned fundraising effort.
“I think, when I announced it to the family, initially everybody thought, ‘Yeah, right, grandpa. But thanks for trying.’ Then every time I would do one, they’d ask how many more.”
McCullough knew a few people with diabetes, but it wasn’t until his 14-year-old granddaughter Katherine was diagnosed eight years ago that it became clear how difficult it was for children to manage the disease. That challenge increased exponentially when her younger sister, Camryn, was diagnosed in July.
“When it’s not a member of your family, you don’t realize the stress, particularly that young kids are under,” Lee McCullough said. “When my first granddaughter was diagnosed, she was pricking her finger six or seven times a day, taking shots six times a day, and monitoring everything. A lot of things can throw your blood sugar off, and those are normally the kinds of things you're not paying attention to. … Everything you do affects your blood sugar level. Those who don’t have it don’t realize it.”
From a grandfather’s perspective, they just grew weary of the stress.
“They get sick and tired of being different,” Lee said. “They hit a wall, these young kids. It’s hard on young kids. That’s the part I totally missed. … Once you get in your 20s and 30s, you’re kind of over the trauma of having to do all of that. It’s just a way of life.”
Scott McCullough said both his girls prick their fingers 10 times a day to check their blood levels. Camryn takes about eight shots per day for insulin, while Katherine relies on a pump for insulin.
“Both girls have to watch their blood sugar from being high, which causes long-term heart, eye and kidney damage,” Scott said. “They also need to watch their low blood sugars, which causes dizziness and they can pass out. Last week Camryn was at Wal-Mart and her blood sugar tanked … so her mom grabbed some root beer off the shelf and got her sipping it to get her blood sugar back up.”
While it’s pretty cool to have a grandpa who runs marathons, Scott said it’s “amazing” to have a grandpa running for the girls — to raise money, awareness and just offer them some support. Lee was 66 when a friend suggested he turn his jogging into racing.
“Running was a quick way to get into shape,” he said. “I was always into backpacking and hiking, and I realized running is the thing to do to stay in shape. It toughens your bones and your body.”
He started with a marathon in Phoenix in March, then Salt Lake in April, Provo in June, Deseret News in July, Big Cottonwood in September and St. George in October. He raised money throughout, surpassing each goal he set every race.
“I’ve enjoyed the (races), particularly because I had a cause to run for,” he said. “Every one of them, I made a point to let people know why we’re running. It gives you a reason to do it, besides the selfish reason of it being fun.”
He said it’s been rewarding to stay in marathon shape all year while running for two little girls he loves very much.
“People are watching and paying attention,” he said. “I feel like we’re raising awareness. Most people who donated said it made them more aware.”
On Sunday morning, Lee finished a cold, windy race, the last he will run for this particular goal.
“I love the pain,” he said in an email. “And the hard work.”
And he’s already working on his next cause — daily exercise. Of course, it also includes the cause closest to his heart.
“I tell people everywhere I go,” he said, “if you don’t want to run for four hours, do it for 10 minutes, and do it for JDRS.”
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