Race honors former Glen Ellyn 'role model'

When Jack Marston died after a nine-month battle with melanoma on July 12, 2004, the heartache spread beyond his family.

The former youth league sports coach had worked with hundreds of Glen Ellyn children. As a result, more than 900 participants attended the first memorial walk held in his honor.

Five years later, participation is expected to reach 1,700 for a second straight year during the sixth annual "This Run's for Jack" Melanoma Cancer 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. Sunday at Ackerman Park, 800 E. St. Charles Road, Glen Ellyn.

"He was one of those givers," said family friend and race organizer Amy Saletta. "He wanted to make sure he was very involved. He was very influential with so many kids."

When Marston was not coaching, the 47-year-old was an avid runner and skier. That's one reason why his wife, Sharon, said the diagnosis shocked her.

"When they pull you into that side room, your heart drops," she said. "A lot of people say it was an out-of-body experience."

After his death, Sharon helped establish the Jack H. Marston II Melanoma Fund, which finances a yearly, renewable $1,000 college scholarship for a Glenbard West High School senior. Recipients can renew the scholarship for four years if they commit to 10 hours of service to the organization per year.

Participants are asked to donate at the race, although no set amount is required. Proceeds beyond race expenses and scholarships go to skin cancer research. Dermatologists also will be on hand to provide free skin cancer screenings.

Children throughout Glen Ellyn felt the effects of Marston's death five years ago. At his funeral, kids from the soccer teams Marston both coached for and against showed up in their multicolored soccer jerseys. Cross-country runners from the freshman to varsity level are expected to participate Sunday.

"I think he was a real role model for many of the children," Sharon said.

She said the race raises roughly $50,000 a year and has helped her four children in their healing process after their father's death.

"What children really are afraid of is that their parent will be forgotten," Sharon said. "It means everything to the kids to have the support."

For more information on the run or to register, visit www.jacksfund.org.