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Whitesboro native selected for Boston Marathon charity team

By HILARY LANE

Story Created: Jan 24, 2013 at 1:52 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 24, 2013 at 2:25 PM EDT

WHITESBORO, N.Y. (WKTV) - A 23-year-old Whitesboro native who describes herself as a "non-runner" is lacing up her sneakers and running 26.2 miles.

Alyssa O'Toole will be participating in the Boston Marathon for a good cause.

Her mother, Wendy, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2004. Over the years, she has lost some of her eye sight, cognitive functioning, and experiences numbness and tingling in her ligaments.

To raise awareness for the disease, Alyssa applied to run on the MS team in the Marathon.

After a four-page application, O' Toole was one of fifty people selected for the team in a competitive process.

Now, O'Toole has set a fundraising goal of $4,000.

"I am hoping if we raise awareness here in Central New York and rally for the cause because of the high incidence rates in Northeast and because of my mom that would be fantastic," said O'Toole.

If you wish to help out, you can do so by visiting her fundraising Facebook page.

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