Runners plan 10 marathons in 10 days to bring down barriers for kids
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That's the goal Mike Hanson and David Morin, longtime friends and Calgary marathon runners, have set for themselves.
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Starting May 16, the duo plan to run a marathon a day, in a different province, until May 25, where they will finish out what can only be described as a Herculean-like endeavour at the annual Servus Calgary Marathon, alongside thousands of participants.
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Along the way, the runners hope to raise $1 million for charities supporting access to sports and extracurricular activities for children. The charities are KidSport, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Autism Aspergers Friendship Society (AAFS).
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As of Friday, they have raised $740,000.
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'There's family and children out there that have barriers to entry in sports and extracurricular activities and we feel as a family that we've been really fortunate and it's kind of an obligation to try and do something about it and try to make an impact,' Hanson said.
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Hanson is a 44-year-old father to four children. The oldest two of the bunch, twins, were diagnosed with autism in 2012, bringing Hanson up close and personal with the challenges of finding sports and extracurricular activities that are inclusive of children on the spectrum.
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He said AAFS provides those opportunities for children, like his twins. 'I've seen firsthand how my son, who wouldn't be able to do a gymnastics course with typical kids, can go there. He fits well, they've got a great program to support them and he walks out of it just completely fulfilled and happy,' he said.
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'There are a lot of kids out there that could be on screens or just staying at home because there isn't an opportunity for them to experience what other typical kids can experience.'
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Morin has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for the better part of a decade. 'The barrier there is just with kids having just a positive adult mentorship and partnership model that they might not otherwise have,' he said.
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Hanson also cited financial barriers to setting up access to activities for kids. 'Both Dave and I wouldn't be where we are in life without sport,' he said.
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A week away from the event, the two sound calm and collected, betraying not a hint of nervousness in their voices. 'We're feeling pretty good,' Morin said. Their training has tapered in the final week, allowing them somewhat of a break before the big week begins.
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