Catherine Stehlin, a cystic fibrosis patient, likes beating the odds.

At 34, she is in training to run in the Flying Pig Marathon on May 2, which will be her second marathon this year.

She ran last weekend in the Humana Heart Mini-Marathon, a fund-raiser for the American Heart Association.

"I am a little scared going into the Flying Pig Marathon," Stehlin said. "I trotted along for about 3 miles in 13 minutes in the Mini-Marathon, but the 6.2 miles I am scheduled to run in the Flying Pig is twice that."

Coach Wayne Wheeler (center) poses with runners Jamie Murray (from left), Keith Connolly, Taylor Blackwelder and Kyle Connolly. They will join others to run for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's third annual Team For Life in the Flying Pig Marathon. Photo by MIKE SIMONS for the Enquirer

She said her doctor, Patricia Joseph, was her inspiration to get into the marathon.

"She is actually running a half-marathon. I figured if she can run a half, I should be able to do something," said Stehlin of Over-the-Rhine.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems. There is no cure, and the median life expectancy is 32, but some have lived into their 50s and 60s with the disorder.

Stehlin and four other cystic fibrosis patients will be running the Flying Pig for the first time. They will be part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's third annual Team For Life, which is made up of 37 runners from the city.

Four of the cystic fibrosis patients are students at Elder, St. Xavier and Moeller.

"Some of our team members will do the full 26.2 miles, and some will do a portion of it," said Marybeth Dowd, director of special events for the foundation's Cincinnati chapter.

Wayne Wheeler, who is training the cystic fibrosis team, said seeing them run in the marathon will provide a sense of community and camaraderie.

"These people are giving of themselves for a cause," Wheeler said. He said the cystic fibrosis patients run five times a week while in training, including once up to five miles. "Each of the cystic fibrosis patients will run in a four-person relay, running up to 6.2 miles."

Wheeler, 64, will run in the marathon, his 16th.

Sixth-grader wins trip

When Briana Vanstone took a stroll through Tri-County Mall recently, she took the time to fill out an entry form to win a trip to Los Angeles and attend the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards this weekend.

Then she forgot about it.

But she remembers it now, since she has been chosen one of 10 winners nationwide.

"I am really excited about this," said the 11-year-old sixth-grader at St. James School in the Valley, Wyoming. "I have never been to Los Angeles. This sounds like fun, attending the choice award ceremonies and seeing the Pacific Ocean."

Her mother, Lori Vanstone, of Springdale, is just as excited.

"The winning prize includes one chaperon to go along with her," her mom said. "I am the lucky parent who gets to go. We will be staying at the Santa Monica Hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean."

Briana and her mother left Friday for Los Angeles. The trip includes free airfare and accommodations for three days and two nights. They are scheduled to return today.

Mt. Airy 'Way of the Cross'

At three churches in Mount Airy, carrying a cross through the neighborhood on Good Friday is more than just a religious commemoration.

It's a chance to be a witness to community and faith.

"We hope that participants from our churches will deepen their faith. And we hope to demonstrate to the community that faith in Christ is still alive and well in Mount Airy's churches," said Pastor David Gerber of Mount Airy United Methodist Church.

The "Way of the Cross" will begin at the United Methodist Church, 2645 North Bend Road, at 3 p.m. Friday with members of the congregations of Praise Chapel Church of God and St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church sharing in the burden of carrying the 120-pound, 10-foot-by-6-foot cross.

Pastors from Mount Airy Churches United, which has four churches but only three participating in this event, have been meeting for several years. They have participated in several projects, including joint Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Thanksgiving Day services, but this is the first time for this event. The pastors of the churches hope to make The Way of the Cross an annual event.

The half-mile path continues through the business district to St. Therese and then to Praise Chapel. Along the way, participants will stop for 10 Stations of the Cross and, eventually, will plant the cross on private property at the corner of Kirby and Colerain avenues.

"Everyone has their own cross to bear, and we can bear it together," said Pastor John Douglas of Praise Chapel. "We want to bear witness that Christ carried the cross and show that we are united in our belief despite our different denominations."