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SEVEN MONTHS after my diagnosis, I joined TEAM DIABETES CANADA – a group of men and women who have made an extraordinary commitment to the Canadian Diabetes Association – in early 2005 to fund raise for diabetes research, treatment, and awareness. I needed your help to do this and you gave it. My commitment was to fundraise at least $6000 and to then celebrate this accomplishment by participating in the Reykjavik Marathon in Iceland.
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What are your legs? |
However, my pledge was and is much more important than the personal challenge completing the event represents. As members of the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Team Diabetes Canada, we participate to assist the Association in their efforts to help people with diabetes make a change for the better. I invite you to stay with our team and continue to help support my fundraising efforts.
I have had my own disease to deal with and helping others and training in turn helped me continue to recover from brain cancer with which I was diagnosed with in February, 2004.
It's been very meaningful for me to give to others in the same way people supported me. There is a history of diabetes in my family; two of my grandparents, my mother and recently my sister. In addition, there are others who have provided immeasurable help and support for me during my battle against cancer, who are themselves living with diabetes, along with over 2 million Canadians. There is also evidence that diabetes can lead to an increased risk of cancer.
I have been asked why I have been fundraising for diabetes research when I "should" be fundraising for cancer research. This was the first opportunity presented to me to give back in some way. Though I do not have diabetes, I might be prone to get it. However, to help in eliminating disease in society - whatever it my be - and helping people live with the disease successfully and happily is my goal. This has been one way to do that. The whole experience since signing up has been amazing. I have met many strong people living with various diseases and not letting it define who they are nor letting it beat them. This has been very inspiring!
So on August 21, 2005, I ran the full marathon. We enjoyed touring around Iceland the rest of the week. By November, 2005, 3 months after the marathon, the cancer came back. Did I push my body too much? Thankfully, subsequent treatment helped shrink the tumour to almost nothing and by September 2006 and it has been clear and stable ever since.
And I am now fundraising for cancer research through an annual riding race: Tour de Cancer
I have had my own disease to deal with and helping others and training in turn helped me continue to recover from brain cancer with which I was diagnosed with in February, 2004.
It's been very meaningful for me to give to others in the same way people supported me. There is a history of diabetes in my family; two of my grandparents, my mother and recently my sister. In addition, there are others who have provided immeasurable help and support for me during my battle against cancer, who are themselves living with diabetes, along with over 2 million Canadians. There is also evidence that diabetes can lead to an increased risk of cancer.
I have been asked why I have been fundraising for diabetes research when I "should" be fundraising for cancer research. This was the first opportunity presented to me to give back in some way. Though I do not have diabetes, I might be prone to get it. However, to help in eliminating disease in society - whatever it my be - and helping people live with the disease successfully and happily is my goal. This has been one way to do that. The whole experience since signing up has been amazing. I have met many strong people living with various diseases and not letting it define who they are nor letting it beat them. This has been very inspiring!
So on August 21, 2005, I ran the full marathon. We enjoyed touring around Iceland the rest of the week. By November, 2005, 3 months after the marathon, the cancer came back. Did I push my body too much? Thankfully, subsequent treatment helped shrink the tumour to almost nothing and by September 2006 and it has been clear and stable ever since.
And I am now fundraising for cancer research through an annual riding race: Tour de Cancer
Iceland Marathon - 2005
The finish!
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Somewhere during the run with Amber
Geysir
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Gullfoss
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Jokulsarlon Lake
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L to R: Ken, Myself, Liz, Amber
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My Training Schedule 2005
- 5 km - April 2. North Shore Credit Union Spring Forward (Stanley Park at Lumberman's Arch) 24:29 (4.86 min /km)
- 10 km - April 17. Vancouver Sun Run (Downtown) - as a member of the BC Cancer Agency team. 46:33 (4.63 min /km)
- 8 km - May 7. Phoenix Mother's Day 8k Spring Classic (Port Moody City Hall) 38:10 (4.76 min /km)
- 10 km - May 8. Pacific Spirit Run (Pacific Spirit Park, UBC) - as a member of the Genome Centre team.
- 5 km - May 13th. Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada Spring Sprint 2005 (Deer Lake Park, Burnaby)
- 10 km - May 29th. Kanaka Creek Regional Park Vistas Run. (Maple Ridge) 46:51 (4.65 min /km)
- 10.8 km - June 12th. Burnaby Lake "Do It For Dad" Vistas Run. (Burnaby)
- 21.1 km - June 26. Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon (UBC Osborne Centre to Stanley Park) 2:08:18 (6.08 min/km)
- 42.2 km - Aug 21. Reykjavik Marathon (Reykjavik, Iceland) 4:42:44 (6.68 min /km)
Training...
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Running was my passion - perhaps one day l'll be back!
Results from two Vancouver First Half Marathons
