Lacing Up For A Cure
Lacing Up For A Cure
Local man Brad Poole running 300 miles for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
If you’ve lived in Western New York - specifically Cattaraugus County - then you’ve most likely heard of a man named Bradley Poole. And if you haven’t yet, you’re about to.
Last summer, Poole pulled off an incredibly impressive feat of running 266 miles through the entirety of Cattaraugus County in a period of less than one week. This, on its own, was a large accomplishment. It’s even more than that because Poole has a rare disease known as Cystic Fibrosis, which primarily attacks the respiratory and digestive systems with a thick mucus. The body produces more salt and less enzymes, which can make it harder to eat and completely digest meals. It also coats the insides of the lungs with a thick mucus which restricts breathing and thus, lung functions. CF patients can struggle with even simple daily tasks - things that those unaffected would never think about - completely automatic bodily functions such as breathing and digesting.
Poole is no stranger to adversity. In addition to Cystic Fibrosis he has struggled with alcoholism, depression, OCD, and anxiety. Poole is also no stranger to accolades, especially within the CF community. He’s been gifted awards, done presentations, given speeches … the name “Bradley J. Poole” has almost become synonymous with the phrase “CF celebrity”.
Having lived with Brad (as I am his nephew), I can say that he is a good mentor and positively impacting role model for all that he comes in contact with. He prefers to remain modest about such things; anyone who knows him will tell you exactly the same. However, he’s going to speak for himself on the challenge he’s currently faced with: running 300 miles around a predetermined loop in Ellicottville, NY.
eNOW: I’m sure a lot of people/readers within the area are aware of your impressive feat of running 266 miles through Cattaraugus County last summer. What brings you back to a challenge like this, 300 total miles?
POOLE: Last year’s event was a big success, having raised $65,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which doesn’t receive any funding from the federal government as it stands. I feel that the bigger and crazier the event, the more awareness I can bring about this disease. I decided to up my game this year and shoot for 300 total miles within 72 hours.
eNOW: What are you doing to prepare for an event of this size?
POOLE: I have a running coach, Mark Wilson, from Cassadaga, NY. He helped me with my previous run and I hired him again as my coach for this year. We’ve got a lot of high-volume and low-volume weeks of running. We’ve done a lot of consecutive days of long distance running just to train for the event which will be three straight days in a row. We are now in the maintaining phase of our training program which means none of the runs can be longer than 8 miles. For these next few weeks I’ll be focusing on mentally preparing for the proposed challenge.
eNOW: Is this a bucket list item, a charity event, just for fun? What can people do if they want to help on the journey?
POOLE: This is a charity event wherein I hope to raise over $65,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. If you would like to help out, you can donate to my fundraising page https://passion.cff.org/300milerun. This link can also be found on the fundraiser’s Facebook page @300forCF or 300 Miles For Cystic Fibrosis: Running For A Cure. I’m also on Instagram @300miles_for_cysticfibrosis and @warrior_fitness_wellness, the latter being the page for the gym that I own and operate. The public may also join in for laps, whether it be running, walking, jogging, biking, and you can also help by spreading the word via social media or by mouth.
eNOW: What is the deadline for donations?
POOLE: If someone happens to miss the event, that’s okay. There will be a celebration party on the day I finish the run, which will be June 12th. It will be hosted at Finnerty’s Tap Room in Ellicottville from 11:00am-6:00pm and sponsored by Finnerty’s, Madigan’s, and The Legacy Restaurant of Springville. We’ll have a Chinese auction, vendors, live music for the entire duration, a chicken and rib BBQ, and $25 all-you-can-drink beer passes. All money raised from the run and afterparty will go towards the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
It’s very obvious that Brad is extremely passionate about what he does and who he is. If you get the chance to meet him yourself, you’ll be in for a real treat. Or you could just ask around; he’s definitely earned the status of “CF Celebrity” as well as the nickname “CF Warrior”, even if he won’t admit it outright. This is a man that many (myself included) aspire to be. Whether in one aspect or all of them, you will find few better to carry the running torch for the CF Community other than Bradley Poole.
There are many ways you can show your support for him as he tackles this absolute behemoth of a workout. If you would like to, any support is truly appreciated. This really is taking the popular phrase “running for a cure” coined by the Cystic Fibrosis Community quite literally. Run on, Brad. Run on.