Nicole Schabbing and her sister-in-law Tracy Schabbing hope that training in humid Southeast Missouri weather will prepare them for their first marathon to be run June 19 in Anchorage, Alaska.

The marathon is a fund-raising event for the Leukemia Society of America. In addition to agreeing to complete the 26.2-mile run, each participant agreed to raise money for patients fighting leukemia. They have committed to raising $3,800 to sponsor a little boy named Andy who lives in St. Louis.

Nicole Schabbing has sent over 250 letters to doctors and business owners throughout the area asking them to help contribute to the cause.

A fund-raising event is planned from 6 to 10 p.m. May 5 at In the Wine Cellar in Cape Girardeau. Reservations are requested today.

Nicole Schabbing said her sister-in-law talked her into participating.

Nicole Schabbing is from Jackson; Tracy Schabbing is from Perryville.

Tracy, she said, has always been a runner. "I was a swimmer," Nicole explained. She is also an occupational therapist with Mid-America Rehab in Cape Girardeau.

The marathon organizers have set a strict training schedule for participants to follow. "I'm following it religiously," Schabbing said. "I'm doing all the mileage I'm supposed to do every day."

Nicole and Tracy have been training together and separately to prepare. They have also researched Alaskan weather conditions in June.

"From what I understand, it should be almost 24 hours of daylight and the weather should be 40 to 60 degrees," Nicole said.

Perhaps the humid, warm weather typical in May and June in Southeast Missouri will help in her training, Schabbing said.