I spent the first weekend in January at the Chapters store in Crowfoot. Julia, the store manager, had scheduled me for book signing and by 11 a.m. sharp each day I had set up my stall.
During the two days, I had many great conversations with the shoppers and sold a number of copies of my book Marathon Quest. One particular conversation I had was with Glenda Zamzow and her son Marcus. She had contacted me on Facebook, wanting to know how she could support Quests for Kids.
A week later I received this email: “I’ve been reading your book and it has really resonated with me (I’m just at the “Right To Play” chapter). We all have a story and sports have changed my life as well. I saw a T-shirt at the Running Room and it said, “Running, it’s cheaper than therapy.” Loved it. I have always said that I have skied my demons away and that is where I am at peace and with God. You have helped our family with your Marathon Quest, sports have helped me and my children and we would like to “pass it forward.”
Glenda went on to say that she had chatted with her husband Richard and other son, Derek, and they wanted to do a number of events and fundraise during 2013. On Jan. 13, I dropped over to their house and I told them about Right To Play and their activities around the world, working with disadvantaged children. We then brainstormed ideas for events they could do. One idea was for Marcus to do a 55-kilometre cross country ski “Birkie”. He also wants to do a 5K on a pogo stick. His brother, Derek wants to do a 5K race on stilts. Count me in.
I was very impressed with other events they want to do either individually or as a family. Their goal is to raise $25,000 for Right To Play and have lots of fun doing it.
On Saturday, Glenda and Derek came out for their first event, Hockey Quest 500. They hadn’t skated before but that didn’t stop them. During the morning they headed out and successfully completed their 10 minutes shifts.
For the rest of the day they were fundraising and selling sumptuous goodies including cupcakes, rice crispy squares and specialty chocolates to all the hockey players and friends milling about at the Centre.
By the end of the day their “Sweet Money” Twisted Tortes cupcake sales had raised $365. What a great start.
If you want to help them along their way, just go to: right-toplay.akaraisin.com/TransRockiesQuest888 and check out their fund raising page.
Make a donation and maybe join them for one of their events.
In life you don’t have to do a lot but you have to do something.
