Aloha all!

We are Alice and Sherry, the nieces of Leila Ventar. If you know our aunty then you know how much she loves to be outdoors and go on adventures. She is a God-fearing wife and mother who takes health and wellness seriously.

We are here to help her attend a cancer wellness program for two weeks in Colorado.

Leila thought December 11, 2022, was going to be the day she carried herself across the finish line of the Honolulu Marathon, which would be her fourth marathon overall. However, just two days after an 18-mile training run, on November 22, 2022 a medical examination revealed that she had colon cancer. Surgery followed the diagnosis and the marathon she trained so hard for was quickly nearing. During Leila’s church family visit with her at the hospital one Sabbath afternoon, a plan was born: the Kapa’a church’s running group—Kauai SDA Runners, now dubbed Team Leila—would find a way to get her across the finish line. Just two weeks from the marathon, Leila was still experiencing pain and there was uncertainty over whether they would find a proper wheelchair push her through 26 miles. Through prayer and coordination, everything fell into place for Team Leila! For five hours, the amazing members of her team alternated to push and run to reach the finish line. Shortly before the finish line, Leila stood up from her wheel chair to make it on her own two feet, arm in arm with two of her running buddies. We can all proudly say that at 10:56 a.m. on December 11, 2022, Leila Ventar completed that race. Despite the challenges and diagnosis, God paved a way and reminded not only her, but all of us that it is He who carries us. What an inspiration!

On behalf of our entire ohana, we humbly ask for any donation and/or prayers to help her get to Colorado.

Mahalo,

Ventar Ohana

To read more on the article about her race:

https://www.adventistfaith.com/media/recorder/a-marathon-friendship?fbclid=IwAR0kTmFwDW0PsKUV9TrWfjefbH3eVVarF6J-8Utb_B578K9pr_o_3zmNV60&mibextid=Zxz2cZ A Marathon Friendship