Miami Airman's Widow Turns To Running

MIAMI, Okla. (AP) _ A northeast Oklahoma woman who's husband was killed in Iraq is turning to running to show her children they can succeed and to honor her husband. <br/><br/>Cristina Norton's

Monday, October 23rd 2006, 10:58 am

By: News On 6

MIAMI, Okla. (AP) _ A northeast Oklahoma woman who's husband was killed in Iraq is turning to running to show her children they can succeed and to honor her husband.

Cristina Norton's husband _ Air Force Tech Sergeant Jason Norton [pictured] was killed by a bomb in January.

She moved 3,200 miles this spring from Alaska to Miami with her two children to be near her late husband's parents.

Now she's training to run in the 31st Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday in Washington. And her 9-year-old daughter Rebecca and 8-year-old son Dalton will take part in a fun run on Saturday.

Cristina Norton says she's running five miles a day and isn't a candidate to win the marathon, but she will finish.

She's also hoping to raise $10,000 for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors _ or TAPS.

TAPS is a national nonprofit organization helping families, friends and military service members affected by a death in the armed services.