Man running marathons on seven continents, raising money for grandfather

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A Charlotte man is using his legs to raise money on seven continents to fund dementia research in honor of his grandfather.

Jason Boschan started Run for Papa in 2011 and has since run marathons on six continents to help raise awareness and funds for the disease.

"In 2011 when Run4Papa started I didn't know how much time I had left with him in the world, so I just wanted to honor him," Boschan said. He created the fundraising effort to help fund dementia research and has partnered with Northwestern University's Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center.

Jason's grandfather Dr. Louis Heyman, "Papa" was a pediatrician for more than 50 years. Later in life he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), a form of dementia that makes a person progressively lose the ability to communicate and comprehend language over time. At present, there is no effective drug or treatment to cure or even treat PPA.

Since 2011, Jason has run marathons on every continent except Europe. He just wrapped up the 26.2 mile jaunt in Antarctica in March.

"I want a cure in our lifetime, and I believe there will be one found," Boschan said.

Boschan works in marketing by day and has devoted most of his spare time to Run 4 Papa. It's a mission he's passionate about and dedicated to, all in the name of his grandfather.

No doubt, Papa would be proud.

For more information or to make a donation check out Run4Papa.com.

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