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Runner Spotlight: Nu Vu

Six years ago, Nhu Vu wanted to check off completing a marathon on his list of things to do in a lifetime. Six years and eight marathons later, Nhu Vu has not only accomplished one of his forever goals, he has made running marathons a lifelong passion.

Today, 30 year-old Nhu Vu is thinking about another goal; to be the first Run for Research Chair to raise $1.3 million for the American Liver Foundation. Nhu has been a member of the American Liver Foundation Run for Research® (RFR) team for six years and on the prestigious Runners’ Council for four years. In that time, he says he has seen the volunteer chairs greatly improve the team of over 240 runners each year and he hopes to continue that tradition by hitting an unsurpassed fundraising mark. Nhu’s lofty objective has nothing to do with ego, and everything to do with his personal connection to liver disease. Nhu was a junior at Boston University when his father was diagnosed with hepatitis C. Doctors surmised that he contracted the liver disease from a blood transfusion as a child and administered medication that his father could take on his own. Although the drugs were difficult to endure and recovery odds were at fifty percent, Huynh Hong Vu reacted positively to the medication. Today, nearly eight years later, Huynh Hong is hepatitis C free and able to cheer for his son during the Boston Marathon.

Nhu’s philosophy stems from helping his dad and has continued through his work with the Patient Match Program. Nhu has been matched with Elizabeth Stemporzewski for over five years and runs each marathon in her honor. Elizabeth was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis at age 11 and recently graduated from Amherst College. She has had a rocky road dealing with her illness but today, this Liver Champion of the 2010 RFR team says she has learned to appreciate her health and the medical care and advancements that have kept her condition stable for 12 years.

Nhu, a native of the Boston area, will train for his 7th Boston Marathon this season by running three days a week and savoring his chocolate milk recovery drink after the long Saturday team runs. He will also devote his free time to the Runners’ Council, team meetings, team events and working with the American Liver Foundation office staff. Nhu does all of this, and holds down a successful job, because it is his passion. What does he love most about being on the team? Nhu says it is the camaraderie. He’s made so many friends on the team, he says, that it gives him the motivation to continue running each year. Elizabeth, along with his Dad, both give him the best reason of all.