Two of Buffalo's Finest Trek to Hawaii

While the soccer season is over and the thought of training for the 2004-05 season is months away, two players from the UB women's soccer team have already started.

Juniors Arielle Korczykowski and Erin Tambs are taking the off-season to a new level as they begin their training for the American Stroke Association's Marathon to be held in Hawaii on June 20.

That's right, Hawaii, home of the NFL's Pro Bowl, the University of Hawaii's Rainbow Warriors and in the upcoming months the residence of Korczykowski and Tambs for five days.

While the trip itself seems more than enough reason to do the marathon, the marathon and its cause hits closer to home for both Tambs and Korczykowski. Both have recently lost family members to strokes and this is a way for each of them to help do their part in battling the fatal disease.

"We always wanted to run a marathon either during school or after soccer was over and we saw the flyer and it was for a good cause," said Korczykowski, a pre-medical and exercise science major. "So why not run a marathon and raise money for the American Stroke Association?"

While it's also for a good cause, the marathon (26.2 miles) is also going to be a test for the girls to see where they stand with other runners across the nation.

"We're both into competing and just pushing ourselves," said Tambs, and international business major. "Besides doing something good for the community and others it's also the chance to experience something we never had before and test our training and ability."

For the former Lake Shore track standouts to even participate in the marathon, they will both need to raise a minimum of $4,900 each. They hope to raise money through the students, faculty and staff of UB and the surrounding area of Amherst and Buffalo.

"The main thing with this is that the money is going towards people who have survived and towards helping preventing stroke," said Korczykowski.

This couldn't have come at a better time for UB. At a time where views of the athletics department and University are perhaps at an all time low, whether it be because of suspensions or just the number of "L's" in the win-loss column; the cause and dedication that Tambs and Korczykowski are working for will standout.

"There seems to be a negative perception of student athletes but maybe this will turn it around a little bit and make it more positive," said Tambs.

Not only will the girls be representing UB and the soccer program but they will also be representing the city of Buffalo. There will be fifty cities across the nation participating in the marathon and just because this is "a good cause" run, the top finishers have the chance to be invited to run in the Boston Marathon.

This will be the first marathon for both of the women and training for it begins in the first week of February with the "Train to End Stroke" program, which kicks off on Jan. 27.

Korczykowski and Tambs will not only be running for themselves, but also for their stroke hero that will be announced at the January 27 meeting.

The two plan on setting up information tables at men and women's basketball games, and having spaghetti dinners to inform the community to help raise awareness about the risks of strokes.