Local Niki Richardson has been preparing for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, taking place in San Francisco Oct. 16. The eighth annual event will raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. About 20,000 women are planning to take part in the race, a 13.1-mile course through the city.
Richardson said she was inspired to fundraise and take part in the marathon when she found out a close friend was diagnosed with leukemia. Later, she learned of a couple other local people who were suffering with some type of lymphoma or leukemia. Connecting with people affected by the diseases motivated Richardson to fundraise to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.