Participate in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in Support of Obesity Canada
By Ian Patton, Public Engagement Coordinator, Obesity Canada
For those that don’t know me, I have lived a life that has been challenged by weight issues. Not long ago, I was at a point with my weight were I wasn’t confident that I was going to live much longer. The weight was killing me.
During my years in university, while a member of the Western University wrestling team, we often held morning runs. These evil events, intended to improve “conditioning,” were the bane of my existence. Not only were they held at unholy hours of the morning reserved for sleepless babies and psychopaths, but they also put such strain on my hulking frame that I despised every minute of it. I did everything in my power to avoid these runs, from faking injuries to having the most unreliable alarm clock ever purchased.
Just so I am clear: I hate running.
Fast forward to present day, and I am now almost four years removed from a gastric bypass and have a new lease on life. And, with my new life, I have found a new love of running, which has become therapeutic and vital to my recovery.
If I can do it, so can you. So here is my challenge to you:
Join me at the 2018 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 21st, 2019. I challenge you to join me in running the 5 km, half marathon or full marathon in support of Obesity Canada.
Obesity Canada is the only registered charity entirely dedicated to the elimination of weight bias and discrimination and improving the lives of Canadian children, youth, and adults living with obesity. Joining the Obesity Canada team will help us raise funds to achieve this mission. Together we can make a difference! Runners who register through Obesity Canada for any of the distances will receive a discounted rate while supporting a great cause!
Better yet, ask me how you can enter the race for free! If you are already registered, you can still join our team and also be eligible to race for free.
If you are not a runner or are unable to participate, I still have a challenge for you. Support me or any of the other Obesity Canada runner by donating to one of our Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon donation pages. Every dollar you donate goes directly to Obesity Canada initiatives, and any donation of $25 or more will get a tax receipt.
Contact me at patton@obesitynetwork.ca to see how you can join and/or support us!
Photo: Vlad Litvinov/Flickr/CC-by-2.0
