By Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

A former Scarborough resident will ply her new love to help others.

Scarborough High School alumni Lauren Norton, 26, will run in the Boston Marathon as part of the American Liver Foundation’s Run for Research team. Norton will be one of 240 runners on the team who has raised money for the foundation, which promotes education, support for the prevention, treatment and cure for liver disease, according to its Web site.

Norton, who graduated from Scarborough High School in 2000, said while growing up she participated in dance and cheerleading, but had no running experience.  She said she didn’t take up running until she attended Emerson College, to clear her head of the stress of schoolwork.

Norton said her interest in running is a “learned love.”

“It built up over time,” she said. “[Running] is really mind over matter.”

Norton said she was encouraged to try marathon running in 2007 by friends. She first participated in half-marathons. However, the Boston Marathon, which is 26.2 miles, will be her first full marathon.

“I’m pretty terrified,” Norton said.

Norton, who currently lives in Boston, Mass., said she decided to run in the marathon as a “bonding experience,” with five of her co-workers at CSN stores. She said she does not have personal experience with anyone with liver disease. However, Norton said the American Liver Foundation matched runners who don’t have family members with liver disease. She was matched with a 3-year-old boy with liver disease in Austin, Texas and exchanged emails and pictures with the boy’s mother. 

Norton said the Run for Research team began training in Boston in September, and in addition to running, they have learned how people are affected by liver disease. She said she originally assumed liver disease was alcohol related. 

As she has learned more about the disease, she has shared her knowledge with family members.

“My family doesn’t like being around me now when I’m preaching about it,” she joked.

According to a press release from the Run for Research team, 30 million Americans – or one in 10 – are deal with liver disease. 

Nearly 20 percent of Americans have fatty liver disease, which is a byproduct of obesity in children and adults. About 1.4 million Americans are infected with hepatitis B, and more than 15,000 children are hospitalized per year with a form of liver disease.

According to the American Liver Foundation Web site, the first stage of liver disease is inflammation, which can cause the liver to be tender and enlarge, creating the area to be hot and painful. Fibrosis is the next stage, which is the scarring of liver tissue, restricts blood flowing through the liver, making it harder for the liver to digest food and battle infection. Stage III is cirrhosis, or excess scar tissue, which can lead to liver cancer. The final stage of liver disease is liver failure, which would require immediate medical care.

Norton said each member of Run for Research was responsible for raising money for the American Liver Foundation. She said she was able to raise $3,000 through family and friends. Corporate sponsorships were difficult to get, she said. Norton said individuals seemed to be more giving, even with the present economy.

Norton said the Run for Research team trains every Saturday, running 20 miles. She said it’s up to each team member to match the same amount of running during the week, meaning Norton usually logs about 40 miles a week. She also trained while she went on vacation recently in the Dominican Republic.

She said she takes advantage of rest by taking naps and eating pasta. Norton said she hasn’t had to change what she usually eats, but said she might try to eat more during the week to keep her energy up.

Norton said she doesn’t have a set goal in mind for the marathon, but she said she hopes to finish in less than four and a half hours.

Donations for Run for Research can be made on the Web site at www.liverteam.org.