PORTLAND, Oregon — In just a few weeks, 55-year-old Grand Ronde tribal elder Veronica Gaston will be taking on a big challenge: her first marathon. Her goal isn't to compete for the fastest time, but to finish the course at her own pace. Decked out in her favorite Nikes, she's on a mission.
"I can walk up to four-and-a-half miles an hour when I get a good pace going," Gaston said.
She's been training for the marathon and uses a walker to briskly walk her miles, a major step forward on her road to recovery from a back injury that left her reliant on a wheelchair.
"I couldn't even walk 10 steps four-and-a-half years ago, being in that power wheelchair because my back fractured, but then I’ve been walking more and more, losing that weight, it's like I feel better… at my peak, I was 325 pounds, and I'm down to 115, so that's 210 pounds gone," she said.
Gaston continues to deal with health problems today, from lingering back issues to blood cancer, which makes what she's doing that much more amazing.
"And after four-and-a-half years, I'm standing tall," Gaston said. "Walking and so very happy, and so, I thought I need to challenge myself."
A couple of years ago, KGW profiled Gaston as she walked along the waterfront. At the time, she was collecting cans and bottles to raise money for relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees. Her latest challenge is the Honolulu Marathon on Dec. 8. She said it's the only U.S. marathon that keeps the clock running until everyone's across the finish line.
"It's like, if I can walk with this pneumonic walker for long distances, you know, I'm gonna do it," Gaston said.
Perseverance is a big part of this Grand Ronde tribal elder. Adopted at age 5, she reunited with her birth mother five years ago, with all kinds of challenges in between, including a decade of homelessness.
"This was my mother's; it's a medallion that someone made," said Gaston, as she showed off the tribal elder medallion she wears around her neck. "I’ve had it since I was 50. On the day I became an elder, I started wearing it, so wearing something of my mom's is very important to me. She walked on a few years ago, and having something of hers inspires me."
Gaston comes from Grand Ronde to Portland every week for health care appointments. She takes the time to get some training in while she's here, walking across Portland bridges, often more than once.
"I've been told by a lot of people in Grand Ronde that I'm an inspiration to them, that they needed to walk more and so it's if I can be an inspiration to anybody, I'd love to be an inspiration," she said.
If you see Gaston walking at a good pace around Portland, she'll be happy if you wish her well on her marathon journey. She also has a GoFundMe set up where you can make a donation. She has airfare and entry fees covered but is still working on paying for food and lodging. She said anything beyond what she needs will be donated to the Knight Cancer Institute.