Brenda Maguire

By Brenda Maguire
For Journal Register News Service

Jeff McBride was not always an athlete.

“I couldn’t even stand gym class,” he said via e-mail, reminiscing on his high school days. He later added, “It became a huge passion of mine when I joined the Army right after high school.”

Now, at the age of 27, McBride will be participating in The Spartan Death Race on June 15 in Pittsfield, VT.

The Spartan Death Race, which has been held every year since 2005, involves a mix of mud runs, obstacles, trail racings and mental challenges that could go over 48 hours. The obstacles change every year, so runners do not know what to expect. Continue reading →

Photo by Brenda Maguire

By Brenda Maguire
For Journal Register News Service

At the age of 42, Ken Miller had to tell his grandparents, parents and four children that he had been diagnosed with cancer because of one decision he made at the age of 15.

That decision was to chew tobacco with his friends, and it was one small decision which led to 27 years of smokeless tobacco use.

On May 17, the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life had Miller visit Twin Valley Middle School to talk to students about the consequences of chewing tobacco. He shared his experience with throat and tongue cancer. Continue reading →