Two Montreat College seniors are going to travel 3000 miles so they can run 26.2 miles in the Rock-'n-Roll Marathon in Seattle, WA.  Whitney Boone and Janel Cox are running with the goal of raising money for World Vision, a Christian international aid and humanitarian organization which seeks to address root causes of poverty and to relieve hunger and suffering in the United States and worldwide.  Cox and Boone will join thousands of other runners at the starting line on June 26, 2010.   

One might review the year that Cox and Boone just had and think that they had accomplished enough as seniors at Montreat.  First, they completed their studies and will graduate on Saturday, May 22, Boone with a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Biology and Cox with a B.S. in Business Management and a minor in Psychology.  

Beyond merely graduating, Boone and Cox both earned the title of NAIA Scholar Athlete and were selected to the Appalachian Athletic Conference All-Academic basketball roster.

Finally, the best friends contributed solid senior seasons to the Montreat women's basketball team as they were both named AAC All-Conference 3rd Team members after leading the Cavaliers to a 20-10 record.  

That's a fairly crowded academic and athletic year.

But Boone, who grew up in Bakersville, NC, wasn't satisfied and suggested to her roommate that they run a half-marathon.  At least, that's what Boone said initially.  Sharpsville, IN native Cox laughs as she recounts how she was "tricked" when Boone's mother, Lisa Boone, actually signed herself and the two students up for the complete Marathon, but Cox quickly became excited about the challenge.  Cox and Boone will continue preparing for the race until they take a 20-mile training run two weeks before the Seattle marathon.

The two plan to enter service with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) after graduation and hope to travel to Worcester, South Africa for training for 11 weeks before working in the mission field in a "children in need" program in Zimbabwe from October 2010 through February 2011, but for now, they are eager to head west for the race.  More than 2200 men and women completed the 2009 Seattle marathon.  

If you want to support Cox and Boone in their efforts to raise money for World Vision, you can contact them at coxjm@montreat.edu or at 765-210-3009.  All contributions will go directly to provide aid for those in need.