Marathoners on a roll

Pacific Shoreline Marathon attracts a record number of racers and raises funds for the Free Wheelchair Mission.For an event that was rumored to have run its last race a year ago, the Pacific Shoreline Marathon came back bigger, better and more emotional than ever.

And in the process, it raised money for a charitable group that provides wheelchairs to people with disabilities in developing countries.

A record number of participants entered the event, which celebrated its 10th anniversary on its traditional day of running: Super Bowl Sunday. The athletes’ stories were many, from the joyful to tearful, from record-setting to uplifting.

Hector Lopez of Gardena won the men’s marathon in 2:32.29, which was the second-fastest men’s time in marathon history.

Nadia Noorzai of Irvine crossed the finish line in 2:57:22 to win the women’s crown, and thus became the first county runner to win the marathon in four years, said Don Gerould, president of the Pacific Shoreline Marathon.

Organizers offered a pot of $10,000 -- the amount was set to coincide with the 10th anniversary -- for half-marathon runners who could break last year’s course record. As it turned out, 37 runners sprinted past the record and split the money.

“To go from a rumor to have been canceled, to this, is awesome,” Gerould said. “It’s still the largest marathon in Orange County, and we intend to keep it that way.”

Gerould and his business partner, Amy Tomchak, took control over the Pacific Shoreline Marathon just weeks before the start of last year’s event.

The two took over the marathon from Herb Massinger, who started the Surf City event in 1997.

Throughout its history, the Pacific Shoreline Marathon has worked with local charities. This year, the primary charity was the Free Wheelchair Mission, and the “Run for Mobility” marathon fundraiser raised $122,984.

It marked the first time that Costa Mesa-based Free Wheelchair Mission, whose mission statement is “to provide the transforming gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries,” had associated a fundraising effort with a sports-related event.

Free Wheelchair Mission was founded in 1999 by Don Schoendorfer of Santa Ana. With a doctorate in mechanical engineering, Schoendorfer used his expertise to create a simple yet rugged and inexpensive wheelchair.

The average cost in 2006 to manufacture, ship and distribute one of the group’s wheelchairs is $44.40, said John Sexton, a founding board member of the mission.

“We’ve been able to distribute these wheelchairs to countries all over the world, and Marines, right now, are distributing them in Iraq,” Sexton said. “We just ordered our 100,000th chair. Our goal by 2010 is to create 20 million chairs.”

One wheelchair to cross the finish line of the 5K race Sunday was occupied by 4-year-old Peyton Vaughn of Foothill Ranch.

Peyton, who suffered a stroke that caused significant brain damage when she was 9 days old, was pushed along the course by Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, 28, of Ghana, West Africa.

Perhaps you’ve heard of Yeboah. Born with a severely deformed right leg in 1977, he was abandoned by his father following his birth and raised under the loving guidance of his late mother, Comfort. He went on to overcome the stigma attached to those born with physical disabilities in his country and became a powerful voice for disabled citizens in Ghana.

Yeboah’s story, “Emmanuel’s Gift,” narrated by Oprah Winfrey, will be released on DVD on Feb. 14.

“It is an honor to be here,” said Yeboah, who has won an ESPY award from ESPN and whose visibility last weekend helped bring awareness to the Free Wheelchair Mission. It was his first visit to Huntington Beach.

“I am glad to help out with the Free Wheelchair Mission,” he said. “It helps give others with disabilities the chance to change their lives. It is very good for me to do something like this.”

Running alongside Peyton and Yeboah was Peyton’s mother, Penny Vaughn. Their journey along the 5K course was documented by a camera crew from NBC Nightly News.

“It was such an inspiring run,” said Vaughn, whose daughter participated in her first marathon event.

Peyton and Yeboah received loud applause as they crossed the finish line. Peyton, breaking into a big smile, reached up and smothered her mother with hugs.

“She’s just a very happy girl and very excited,” Vaughn said. “She feels the energy of the crowd.

“I think that Emmanuel is such a wonderful inspiration. What I enjoyed most about this day is the way that the Free Wheelchair Mission has touched me. We need to do more to raise funds, to help change lives around the world. What they are doing is an inspiration to all.”

Last year’s Pacific Shoreline Marathon drew more than 7,600 participants for all three majors distance events. That record number was topped this year.