Oak Park teen performs community service

KEEPING UP THE PACE- Oak Park resident Drew Gregory nears the finish line at a recent marathon. He donates the money raised from his marathon participation to cancer research organizations. Drew Gregory has been raising money for cancer patients and their families in the community- one step at a time.

The Oak Park teenager just completed his third half-marathon on May 10 at the Santa Barbara Wine Country run. By collectinf donations for his efforts, Drew has raised more than $15,000 for local charities.

"Nothing feels as good as crossing the finish line after training for months and running 13 miles the day of the race," Drew said when asked why he runs is long distance races.

"When I do not feel like training or I feel like I cannot run any further, I think of all the brave and strong cancer patients and what they go through and how they survive their treatment," Drew said. "I get motivated real quickly."

The racing began as a bar mitzvah project when Drew was 12 years old and he wanted to honor his grandmother, Sherie Gregory, who died of ovarian cancer.

"My project changed my life. Since my bar mitzvah, I feel that helping others is my obligation," said Drew.

Drew recently completed the Big Sur Marathon in Monterey, and the Disneyland Half Marathon in Orange County.

He encourages the community to make a donation to The Wellness Community Valley/ Ventura's Garden of Hope or the American Cancer Society.