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Patella is runner with a cause Photo by Bob Pennell Martina Patella, who ran for Medford 9-year-old AJ Palazollo, was one of about 3,000 Honolulu Marathan entrants running for the Leukemia Society of America. Finishes marathon for leukemia victim By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN As she ran across the rugged terrain near the famous Hawaiian mountain landmark of Diamond Head, the views were spectacular. But there was a problem. Pain. Medford teenage distance runner Martina Patella wondered if running her first marathon last Sunday in Hawaii was worth the effort and discomfort. "It was humid and uncomfortable out there," says Patella. "You get to a point where you feel you can't take another step. But I was determined to go on." And finish. When her resolve to complete the 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon waned, all Patella had to do was look down at her wrist. There, she saw a hospital wrist band with the name AJ Palazzolo written on it. Palazzolo is a 9-year-old Medford boy who is afflicted with leukemia, and Patella was running on his behalf. "I had to stop a couple of times and walk, but there was no way I wasn't going to be able to make it (finish)," says Patella, a senior at St. Mary's High. "I was running for AJ. I didn't want to let him down." Palazzolo, the son of former Southern Oregon University head football coach Jim Palazzolo and a third-grade student at Sacred Heart School of Medford, has had the disease for approximately one year. It's currently in remission, says Jim Palazzolo. "It's very heartwarming that Martina decided to run for AJ, and we're very appreciative," says Jim Palazzolo. "A lot of people have shown their concern for AJ. But no one got up and ran 26 miles for him." Patella, 18, was running for Palazzolo and the Leukemia Society of America (LSA). She finished ninth in the girls 19-and-under age division in a time of 4 hours, 17 minutes and 21 seconds. "I was running in honor of AJ, and I knew he was pulling for me and wanting me to do well," says Patella, who raised $8,400 in donations for LSA in Palazzolo's name. "I was proud to get to do that." Patella was one of about 3,000 runners wearing purple jerseys in support of LSA. She also was one of 21,211 runners to complete the world's third largest marathon. "I had to stop a few times and walk," she says. "But nothing was going to stop me from finishing. I knew AJ was wondering how I did, and I at least wanted to finish for him so he would be happy." She was pleased with her time. It came close to projected times she and her crpss country and track coach at St. Mary's, Joe Volk, discussed. "It was kind of tough, but I got through it," she says. "There was a band playing awesome music at the 22-mile mark, and that pumped me up enough to get me to the finish." "She did very well for her first marathon," says Volk. "Her goal was to finish and she did that. She finished ninth in the nation in her age division, and that's very good." Since Patella is an LSA member and part of its Team Training program, her airfare to Hawaii and expenses were paid for by United Airlines. She spent three nights in a Honolulu beachfront hotel prior to the race. "I had a great time, at least until the race started," she says. "It was a humid that day, and very warm, to the point of being uncomfortable." As part of her senior project at St. Mary's High, Patella raised funds to make the trip. "I'm taking about a month off (from running) to let my body recover," says Patella. "It was a great experience, but it was pretty hard for me to finish. Going up Diamond Head was hard enough, but coming down was worse because it was so hard on my feet. "But I knew I was running for an awesome cause. It makes me feel good to help people out like this." Martina's mother, Donna Patella, who is one of AJ Palazzolo's teachers at Sacred Heart Elementary School, says AJ is an energetic boy who loves life and to compete in athletics. "He's a lot like his dad in sports," says Donna Patella. "He plays everything, and he's good at everything. He's also very competitive. "I know his dad coached one of his teams, and they are closer than ever because of it. He's a great kid, and everybody likes him. The best thing of all is that the disease is in remission." AJ Palazzolo is a quarterback in football, and he was named a Little League all-star in baseball last summer. "He has the makings of a good quarterback and a good athlete," says Jim Palazzolo. "But at this point, his mother (Debbie) and I just want our little boy." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.