Slated for Saturday at Snake River Landing, the M.A.D. marathon is the only full-fledged marathon available in the Idaho Falls area.
With Donny Osmond endorsing the event with his Making A Difference (M.A.D.) program, organizers have thus far experienced an outpouring of interest from East Idaho as the event enters its second year.
Unlike most full-length races of this type, the M.A.D. marathon is specifically geared toward beginners. Of course there will be an apt reward for the winners of the run, but the goal is to also champion and cheer for the first-timers.
All proceeds will go to the Olive Osmond Perpetual Hearing Fund. In fact, the Idaho Falls event is a template for similar races across the country that will pay tribute to the matriarch of the Osmond family, Olive Osmond. According to event organizers, Idaho Falls was chosen because Olive Osmond was born and raised just a short distance away in Malad.
Olive created the Osmond Foundation many years ago, which is now called the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). The original dream and purpose for this foundation was to raise deaf awareness and promote hearing educational services. Olive's two oldest sons, as well as her grandson Justin, were born with severe hearing loss. The Osmonds are dedicated to the legacy that Olive left behind in raising awareness and funding for the hearing impaired.
For additional details, visit www.themadmarathon.com.
