Anniversaries are important, whether it’s a birthday, wedding, or the day you got your first bike.
Today (Dec. 31) is significant to me for a number of reasons. This was the day, in 2003 when I met my wife Sue at a New Year’s Eve party. I was in England visiting family and Sue was a friend of my sister, Jan. We had a long distance relationship for a couple of years visiting each other in England, Canada and Denmark. Then in 2005, Sue came over to Canada and has been by my side ever since.
This is also my 100th article I’ve written for the Cochrane Eagle. In the first one, back in March 2011, I talked about how to run an Ultramarathon. Over the years, my articles have covered such topics as applying for Mantracker, visiting Benin in West Africa, taking a session of aquasize, participating in the Kimmett Cup, the importance of good grammar, collecting a ton of pennies for Right To Play, the Kraft Celebration Tour, learning to play sledge hockey, helping out in High River and Morley after the flood, the exploits of the Detroit Mower Gang, running with Jamie McDonald and looking after the needs of four-month-old grand-baby Matthew Conner.
Today is the fifth anniversary of the last of the 250 marathons I ran in 2010. As you read this column a group of us will be running/walking from Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre along the Bow River on two-kilometre loops, through the off-leash park, down to the old trestle bridge and back. This event marks the end of “Quests for Kids”, my five-year initiative to complete 10 quests, raise $1 million for Right To Play and helping 20,000 children. So far, we’ve raised over $660,000 and there’s still time to donate at canadaquestforkids.com.
Over the years, the Cochrane community has played a huge role in this endeavour. Every school in town has held fundraisers, including hockey games, dodgeball tournaments and bake sales. Many residents hold Guinness World Records having participated in the longest game of soccer or the biggest game of hockey. I’m sure Cochrane has the most Guinness World Record holders per capita in all of Canada.
Wishing everyone a wonderful and fulfilling 2015 and a very big thank you, Cochrane, I couldn’t have done it without you.
All the best, Martin.
