Winter Haven, Florida -- A middle school teacher who lost his mother to cancer is planning to run 50 miles across Polk County to raise money to fight the disease.

Innovations Middle Charter School teacher Rafael Martin is motivated by the memory of his mother, Ligia Martin, who died because of stomach cancer in 2005.

His run on Friday, March 29th is being supported by the Brooks Law Group Relay for Life Team. Here are more details on the fundraising run from the law firm:

The run will start at the Brooks Law Group office in Winter Haven at 123 First Street North at 5 a.m. Rafael will run through Lakeland, Mulberry, Wahneta, and back to Winter Haven all in one day.

The distance will be over 50 miles! He will return to Brooks Law Group around 8:00 that evening.

Rafael Martin's mother, Ligia Martin, died from stomach cancer on January 18, 2005. Since her death, he has vowed to do whatever he can to help people and families devastated by cancer.

Rafael has made 6 previous 50-mile runs to raise funds for his students and for the Moffitt Cancer Center. You can read about his March 2012 run for Moffitt Cancer Center at the 10 News website.

Jenna Stalaboin, the PR and Marketing Director for Brooks Law Group, PA has been the personal injury law firm's "Team Brooks" captain for the Relay for Life the past 2 years.

She is a survivor of Hodgkins Lymphoma and has a family history of colon cancer. Brooks Law Group is very excited to have Rafael Martin on their team.

Click here to make a donation to the Brooks Law Group "Team fund" Relay for Life for Rafael's 50 Mile Run.

You can sponsor him by the mile or any way you would like. Even one dollar per mile comes out to $50.00. Every little bit counts!

Donations can also be mailed. Please make checks payable to the American Cancer Society, write "50 Mile Relay for Life" on the memo line, and mail to:

Brooks Law Group, PA

123 First Street North

Winter Haven, FL 33881

Grayson Kamm, 10 News