12:24 PM PST on Thursday, November 27, 2003

By CATHY KIYOMURA / KING 5 News

DUVALL, Wash. - Students at Eagle Rock School are working on a special project, and it's not art.

They are preparing to support a fellow classmate, 7-year-old Sierra Fuller, who has a rare type of cancer that's a bit difficult to pronounce.

"Rhabdomyosarcoma, I've been practicing it for a long time," said Sierra.

Sierra and 67 classmates will run in the Seattle Children's Marathon this Saturday as "Team Sierra" to raise money and awareness for children fighting cancer.

KING Sierra Fuller

"There's just pain in my heart and then after I walk for awhile it stops and I just start running again," said Sierra.

Sierra has an easy, strong stride and will cheer her team on.

"I probably will cheer them on and scream at the top of my lungs and say go Page, go Abby, go Darby..." she said.

"She wants people to know that even though you have cancer or a disease you can still be active, you can still be healthy," said Sierra's mom, Maria.

When it comes to determination and being a champion, Sierra and her classmates are teaching us all a lesson.

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Seattle Marathon

Saturday's race will be the third time Sierra has participated in the Seattle Kids Marathon.

Her team will be easy to spot. They will all wear bright yellow baseball caps.