It won’t be your average tropical vacation.
In April, Hollister residents Courtney Parrinello and Libby
Matulich will fly to Kona, Hawaii, where they plan to swim, bike
and run to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphona Society.
It won’t be your average tropical vacation.
In April, Hollister residents Courtney Parrinello and Libby Matulich will fly to Kona, Hawaii, where they plan to swim, bike and run to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphona Society.
In addition to months of training, each also needs to raise $4,800 before they can go – 25 percent to pay for travel costs, the rest for medical research.
“At first, it doesn’t seem so bad – then you get closer to April 1,” Parrinello said.
Added Matulich, “We’re going to have to do a lot, but we’ve got a lot of ideas.”
Parrinello said friends at the Gilroy gym where they practice Tae Kwon Do and kickboxing convinced them to participate. It seemed like an exciting challenge, she said, and the beautiful island setting wasn’t exactly a deterrent.
Of course, the cause is important, too, Parrinello said. One of her uncles recently died of lymphoma, while another is in remission. As a nursing student at Gavilan College, Parrinello said she’s also come face to face with others facing those ailments.
“At first you just agree to do the triathlon,” Parrinello said. “Then it starts to sink in, what you’re doing it for. … I’ve seen a lot of patients come in with that kind of stuff. It’s good to meet these people because a lot of times the money seems to just go out there.”
Still, despite the motivation, making time for the training can be tough. Parrinello has to squeeze in workouts – including a drive to Palo Alto for swimming practice – around classes and schoolwork. Matulich works at the Rebekah Children’s Center in Gilroy and has a 5-year-old daughter of her own.
Parrinello and Matulich haven’t stopped their other sports activities, either. Before the triathlon in April, they have a martial arts tournament in February.
It’s been a rewarding, challenging process, the pair said. Working out with a 75-person team has helped, and Matulich recalled being “amazed” by the sight of 75 bicyclists speeding through Palo Alto’s streets.
Almost anyone would be intimidated by their formidable physical and financial goals, but Matulich said when they started training in October, she faced an additional obstacle: She didn’t know how to swim.
“I’m at the point where I can swim now, and I’m going to keep working at it,” Matulich said. “It’s hard, but I’m definitely up for the challenge.”
How to Help:
For more information, or to donate, visit Libby Matulich’s Web site.
