For the last four years, when Dec. 31 rolls around, Martin Parnell has had a lot more than a New Year’s Eve party to plan.
Each year, Parnell has been organizing and running in the Marathon Quest (MQ) 250 Run and Walk – an event that caps off a year of quests completed as part of his five year Quest for Kids, in order to raise money for Right to Play.
Right to Play is a global organization that uses the power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity around the world.
This will mark the fifth and final MQ250 marathon for Parnell, one that he said he views as a ‘big thank you to Cochrane.’
“It is a big celebration,” said Parnell, adding that the event will be bitter sweet for him. “I’ll have mixed emotions. I’ll be a bit of a mess to be honest with you.”
Parnell’s tone of voice reflected those ‘mixed emotions’ as he talked about finishing it all up, a five-year quest that has so far raised over $660,000.
“Everywhere I go there are memories of people who have been involved over the last five years,” he said. “These things need to have a beginning, middle and an end – and it has been great. I’m thrilled that I could do it in Cochrane. I honestly don’t think I could have pulled it off anywhere else to be honest.”
Parnell said that some of his favourite memories over the years have been visiting the schools in Cochrane. Parnell said he has visited every school two or three times over the five years.
Getting to see the kids grow and move up from grade to grade and school to school is what Parnell said he has really enjoyed.
“That thread has been one that I have really enjoyed over the last five years…speaking to the kids and having them participate in the events and the Cochrane schools have been great,” he said.
The MQ250 run and walk will follow a two-kilometre loop that goes along the Bow River. Participants wanting to do a full marathon will begin at 9 a.m., half marathon begins at noon, 10 km at 1:30 p.m., 5 km at 2:15 p.m. and 2 km at 2:40 p.m. Everyone will finish at 3 p.m.
Parnell, who will be running the full marathon, described the structure as opposite of a standard race.
“In a race everyone starts together and finishes at different times. I call this the reverse race where we all start at different times and finish together. It’s great,” he said.
If people are unable to make the exact start times, they are invited to join in whenever they can. There is no set registration fee, but people are asked to make a donation to Right to Play.
The money raised by Parnell for the Quest for Kids in the first two years and this year went to what is called ‘unrestricted funds’ for Right to Play, according to Parnell. This means that the money is used in locations around the world wherever there is the greatest need.
In 2012 and 2013 the funds went to Right to Play programs in Benin, West Africa, where Parnell visited in 2011.
Parnell said that there has been a lot of work done in Canada by Right to Play. Over the last three years, they have been working with 57 First Nations communities in Ontario and Manitoba, and in 2015 will be coming to Alberta.
“It is going to be really exciting,” said Parnell of the move.
“I would certainly like to help out with that.”
Besides looking to help with other future Right to Play endeavors, Parnell said he would be doing a lot more professional speaking and focusing on talking about his experiences.
“I want to do more of that in terms of sharing my story and talking to people about setting goals and achieving results they never thought possible,” said Parnell. “A lot has happened in those five years. That is what I want to do, is share that story in the future.”
For more information on Parnell visit quests.martinparnell.com or to donate visit canadaquestforkids.com.
For more information on Right To Play visit righttoplay.com.
