Marathon
Strides Against MS
Taking
Things for Granted - Michelle Amerie
A
BIT ABOUT MICHELLE: Michelle has been the
human baton for the Relay Team. She lives with MS every
day.
TAKING
THINGS FOR GRANTED
by Michelle Amerie
As my abilities
changed - it became quite obvious that not only had I taken
things in my life for granted - but most everybody else around
me was doing the same.
Too
often people sit and wait, or tell themselves that they will
get
to it later… too many of us anticipate opportunity
knocking on our door - and not enough of us head out to find
where it is that opportunity lives.
Each year,
at the Toronto International Marathon, I participate with
a group of individuals known as the Marathon Striders. They
take part in a fundraising event called the Marathon Strides
Against MS.
This
event is a relay style race run through a half marathon.
Two Striders
start by running for two kilometres - then they pass me,
the “human baton” onto the next two and so on
till they cross the finish line.
Last
October was the fifth year that the Marathon Strides Against
MS had
taken place - and to date they have raised well over $250,000
that has gone towards research to help find a cure to MS.
This year’s race promises to keep that energy going!
Over
the years, I have watched the ‘Green Team’ grow. You know…not
once has a runner just completed their two kilometres. No
- some did 4 kms, some went for 6, and others even 8, 10
and 12 kms! Actually, on two separate marathon years, there
have been three runners who started the race intending on
running the two kilometers to which they had committed, but
went on to complete their first half marathon - they just
didn’t want to stop! You can imagine the excitement
and the adrenalin rush that comes over all of us - spectators
and runners alike - when this powerful sea of green makes
its way through the city and crosses the finish line.
Why
do these people do this? They are not runners; they’re not even
speed walkers… but each year, the team continues to
grow.
Maybe
it’s
because of the camaraderie, or being a part of the team,
or maybe it’s because they are doing something to help
change the lives of 50,000 Canadians living with MS… or
maybe, it is because they get it! Their lives - your lives … anyone’s
life - can change completely… in a second!
This is something
that able-bodied people can learn from people with disabilities.
We are all teachers just as much as we are all students -
and, I believe it is true, that we all teach that which we
must learn.
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