By james art 
LAS VEGAS — Thousands of people from all over the world participated in the first Las Vegas Marathon.
For each person participating in the race, which began at Red Rock Canyon and ended at the Fremont Street Experience, their running goal is different.
“What made me run was that in 2011 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and I was a smoker and the doctors told me the fastest way to a wheelchair was to keep smoking,” said Derek Stefureak, a Las Vegas resident and Las Vegas Marathon participant.
Stefureac said that after being diagnosed with MS at age 39, he decided to replace smoking with jogging.
“When I started running I noticed that my left leg wasn’t strong, I was limping, it was like a symptom of MS that I didn’t even know I had because I was never jogging and when that started happening I thought you know what the limp is in the direction of the wheelchair and I’m going to go in that direction and push it as far as I can,” Stefureac said.
Stefureac said the decision saved his life.
“It took years, but it got to the point where it would be a mile for me to limp, then a few months later it’s two miles, then three, four and to the point where I’m running marathons without a limp and it’s a blessing,” he said.
For Kevin Schroeder, a Las Vegas marathon runner from Ohio, being diagnosed with prostate cancer with four weeks to live at age 35 ignited a new passion for running.
“I actually started running when I was diagnosed with cancer,” Schroeder said. “It just became a thing and I started doing these races and started really liking them.”
Now cancer-free, Schroeder said the inaugural race was his 38th marathon.
Schroeder said he is running because he has been given another chance at life.
“The greatest day is race day, we’re all together, we’re all running, we’re all cheering for each other, it’s cool, it’s a great experience.”