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Greg Warcken completed the Fargo Marathon in 3:43, an impressive finish that put him at 300 out of 1,270 finishers in the race. Along the way, he also raised funds and awareness for the Anne Carlsen Center.

LaMoure Man Runs Marathon in Honor of Nephew, ACC

When 30-year-old Greg Warcken crossed the finish line of the Fargo Marathon on Saturday, his impressive demonstration of athleticism had special meaning for his nephew and other children served by the Anne Carlsen Center (ACC).

The LaMoure resident ran the full marathon—a total of 26.2 miles—in just 3 hours and 43 minutes. That put him at 300th place out of 1,270 finishers. And while such an extraordinary finish required hard work and determination, Warcken says what impresses him most is the willpower of a boy who will turn 2 years old on May 24.

“I am inspired by my courageous and strong nephew, Luke Joseph Johnson,” says Warcken.

Luke—who lives in Fessenden with his parents, Stephanie (Warcken’s sister) and Jeff—was born with spina bifida, a part of a group of birth defects called neural tube defects. It occurs when the tissue surrounding the developing spinal cord of a fetus does not close properly. For Luke, some of the most dramatic complications have been lack of normal bladder and bowel control, and extreme weakness in the muscles of his legs.

Despite the medical challenges, Luke is making great strides. Since September of 2008, the Anne Carlsen Center has provided a variety of therapy services to the toddler and his family. An ACC physical therapist spends an hour each week helping Luke improve his muscle strength and coordination.

“Luke is now a lot stronger in his lower limbs,” says Luke’s mom, Stephanie. “He was crawling in January. Thanks to the Anne Carlsen Center, he conquered that milestone in just two weeks. It has been both exciting and fulfilling. I don’t think we’d be as far as we are – by any means – without the Center. We have seen so many miracles happen there.”

Following his run, Greg shares a special moment with his nephew Luke. Greg ran the Fargo Marathon in honor of Luke and other children served by the Anne Carlsen Center.

For the last several months, Warcken invited people to join his team, “Pavement Pounders on the Prairie,” by donating to the Anne Carlsen Center at www.firstgiving.com/gregwarcken. In addition to raising funds for ACC, he says he hopes he has raised more awareness about the non-profit organization and its important role in empowering individuals with disabilities. And while Warcken has run marathons in Anchorage, Alaska and Orlando, Fla., he says this is the most excited he has ever been about a race.

“I want to help keep smiles on the faces of these children,” says Warcken. “There is such a spirit inside these individuals—it’s incredible.”