Molly Midyette: Born to Run's "Caballo Blanco" to speak at May 7 legal defense fundraiser

Molly Midyette has the odds stacked against her. She's serving a sixteen-year prison sentence over the 2006 death of her twelve-week-old son Jason Jay Midyette, a punishment she says she doesn't deserve because ex-husband Alex Midyette and his powerful family allegedly sabotaged her defense to help Alex. But in her fight for a new trial, she has some unusual advocates, including Micah True, aka "Caballo Blanco," a colorful hero in Christopher McDougall's bestseller, Born to Run.

True's unusual story -- he's an ultramarathoner who found inspiration in the extreme endurance tests of the Raramuri Indian tribe of Copper Canyon, Mexico -- received national attention thanks to McDougall's book, and is the subject of an upcoming film starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Lately, when he's not running, True has been giving presentations all over country about the Raramuri culture and running -- although his 7 p.m. talk this Saturday, May 7, at Boulder's Unity Church, 2855 Folsom Street is unique, in that proceeds from the event go to Molly Midyette's legal defense fund.

"Micah has been a friend for years," says Jane Bowers, Molly's mother. "Molly was actually part of the crew as a little girl in the 1980s, when Micah and Molly's father ran an ultramarathon from Laramie to Cheyenne, which Micah won."

While True's presentation on Saturday won't be about Molly's case, Bowers says there are connections between True's story and that of her daughter. After all, Molly herself has always been a runner, something she now does every day she can in prison. And then there's the fact that like True, Molly's legal ordeal has been much like an ultramarathon itself.

Tickets for the event, which will include a short update from Molly's legal team and reception with True after the presentation, cost $22 on micahtrue.eventbrite.com or $20 for cash-only purchases at the door.

More from our Follow That Story archive: "Molly Midyette, sentenced to 16 years for her son Jason's death, speaks out (VIDEO)"