YouTube – Yves LaRock – Rise Up.

Today is my 31^st birthday and I’m writing to share my story with everyone I know and to ask for your help. I’m also going to be appearing in an article in the Edmonton Sun on March 31. It’s the “Around Town” column in the Real Estate Weekly insert.

In the brief time living in this world I’ve learned one thing: it’s the quality of life that makes a difference, not the quantity. In my last year at NAIT, 2005, I took a giant step towards improving my quality of life by taking up running. Ten months later, I finished my first marathon. I had one goal in mind when I was training for that event; to prove that I could. I was still bitter about not meeting the medical requirements for entrance into the Canadian Armed Forces, which had been my life-goal for as long as I can remember. I’m happy to say that, through finishing the marathon, I discovered a new source of pride and another great way to see the world and to make a difference.

After completing the marathon, there was a burning question in my mind and heart for which I had to find an answer: what now? Do I pat myself on the back then go back to being a couch potato? In 2005, I decided that doing a marathon wasn’t impossible. In 2006, I decided that international travel wasn’t impossible either. Since then I’ve run in New Zealand, Canada, the US, China and South Africa! That’s four marathons on four continents in four years! I’ve decided that it’s also possible for me to do six marathons on six continents in six years! We’ll see about Antarctica. The only thing holding me back is funding.

While I was in South Africa, I met runners who were able to do marathons all over the world by running for a cause. What cause could I run for? I run because I can so it seems most fitting to run for those that can’t. This year, I joined The Arthritis Society Joints in Motion Training Team. The team’s purpose is to enhance the quality of life for those affected by Arthritis, raising money to help those who live every day with what I can only imagine is the kind of pain I felt in the last few miles of the marathon.

The Joints in Motion Training Team provides runners the opportunity to raise money for arthritis research, then run in the Athens Classic Marathon in Athens, Greece. This year will be the 2500^th anniversary of the original marathon! I am responsible for raising $6,400 in sponsorship towards arthritis research, and, in turn, The Society will send me to Athens to run the twenty-six miles. This endeavor will require me to follow a rigorous 16-week training program, running up to 40 – 50 km per week Leading to a successful marathon run in October.

The training part I can handle, with the help of the team. The sponsorships are where you come in. I’m asking you to help me achieve my goal of helping to make this world a better place to live for those who suffer from the various forms of Arthritis. Please share this letter with everyone you know. I’m attempting to finish my fund raising project by July 1, 2010 so that I will then be able to concentrate on the grueling work ahead of me.

This is a very important cause to me, and I invite you to take part in this team effort as well. I hope you will encourage and support me along the way as I train for this 26.2 mile event. Please know that every little bit helps. Together we can help comfort and hopefully one day find a cure for the nearly 4.5 Million Canadians whose quality of life is compromised by Arthritis.

Yours Truly,

Shane Bremner

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month Highlights Children’s Experience with Arthritis.

-Shane