OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A Marine Veteran fighting brain cancer just completed his 455th marathon. In this Zevely Zone, I met a hero at the Oceanside Pier.
Last year, Marine veteran Hank Dongian began treatment for his brain cancer. In December, he managed to run his 450th marathon on New Year's Eve raising nearly $100,000 in support for his combat-wounded brothers and sisters.
Hank is a man of service. The 68-year-old Marine veteran served his nation for 34 years. Hank showed me pictures from his many deployments.
"This is with my rifle platoon over in Okinawa. I made two tours to Beirut in the eighties," said Hank. "I was in the Persian Gulf War." He fought in too many wars to count.
"I went to Iraq after 9-11," said Hank. "They used to say anytime there was trouble, Hank was there he was like a trouble magnet."
That trouble left Hank suffering from PTSD and 100-percent disabled which is why he started running marathons.
"It's good for your soul to be out there and be by yourself," said Hank. But he's not alone, every marathon is dedicated to wounded veterans. Hank raises money for the Semper Fi & America's Fund.
"I am on the verge of raising 100,000 dollars," said Hank.
I'm going to let you decide which of the following is more impressive the fact that Hank just completed his 455th marathoner, or the slight inconvenience that he's running all of those marathons with brain cancer.
"They found a golf ball-sized tumor on my head," said Hank who says when you're a Marine cancer is not an enemy he fears. "No one was shooting at me, okay what's next," said Hank. "I had a full head of hair on December 30th."
Following dozens of rounds of radiation, Hank ran three marathons in three days over New Year's weekend. "After the second marathon on December 31st, I looked at my shirt and thought I had been around a dog that shed and my hair was falling out," said Hank. As for this television exposure, the humble hero made a polite request. "Can you turn a frog into a prince?" asked Hank.
How about a king of both service to his country and fellow wounded brothers and sisters in the military? "Thank you for your service to our country," I said. "Thank you, Jeff," said Hank. "Thank you for putting the focus on the Semper Fi & America's Fund."
"Oorah!" yelled Hank. Hank is hoping you'll make a donation for the next marathon he runs for the Semper Fi & America's Fund, for more information, click here.