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Country Guitarist Takes On Rock 'N' Roll Denver Marathon For Charity

DENVER (CBS4) - Thad Beaty is a guitarist in the band for country music group Sugarland.

"It is a wonderful, wonderful group of people. It's turned into a family," Beaty told CBS4.

The country musician turned tri-athlete is training for the Rock 'n' Roll Denver Marathon.

"We'll run the race. I'll hop on stage with each of the bands, play a song, and keep running again," Beaty said.

Beaty relishes the journey that is training and running a marathon.

"Accomplishing things like this, endurance events, running marathons, is … it can change the trajectory of your life," Beaty explained.

He's hoping to change the trajectory of other lives too. He's running with Team Edith.

"One-hundred percent of the money that we raise goes straight to affecting patients and research directly," Beaty said.

LINK: The Edith Sanford Breast Foundation

The Edith Sanford Breast Foundation studies breast cancer on a genetic level, developing specialized treatments for each patient with a goal of putting an end to breast cancer altogether.

"Our family as a whole has been deeply, deeply, deeply affected by cancer," Beaty said.

Marathon Thad
(Credit CBS)

Beaty's mother and mother-in-law are both breast cancer survivors. His wife lives with the knowledge that it's in her genes.

"It's something that has driven us and motivated us, and it's something that we don't want to fear," Beaty explained.

He doesn't seem to fear cancer or running more than 26 miles in the Rock 'n' Roll Denver Marathon.

"I can't imagine that it would be anything but awesome," he said.

LINKS: Support Team Edith | Sign Up for Team Edith at The Rock 'n' Roll Denver Marathon

You can sign up to run with Thad Beaty or to support Team Edith. The Rock 'n' Roll Denver Marathon and ½ Marathon is Sunday, Oct. 18.

Libby Smith is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. If you have a story you'd like to tell CBS4 about, call 303-863-TIPS (8477) or visit the News Tips section.

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