70 Trips Around the Sun Plus 10km

After seventy trips around the sun, what could better than spending a day with my best friend, new friends and raising money for friends in Ukraine?

Walk Run Ride

In January 2024 I decided what I wanted to do on my 70th birthday. Spend it with Jocelyn and raise up new friends  and funds for Ukraine. We set an audacious goal of raising $70,000 for my 70th birthday for Ukraine. Willing friends across Canada agreed to create fundraising events in their neighbourhoods.

I met Carolyn Garton from Alliston, Ontario in Ukraine.  She is a dedicated volunteer with Loads of Love. I reached out to Carolyn’s pastor, Blair Mercer, and he was willing to organize a Walk, Run, Ride event for her. And that’s how I came to be running 10km in Alliston, Ontario on my 70th birthday.

10km

I had not run 10km in over a decade. My typical training is to run/walk 2km every other day on a treadmill. Outdoor running on a track, with slopes, in 24C Ontario-heat was more than I was used to. But it was fun to participate with parents and their kids on bicycles, roller blades, and in pull carts. Pastor Blair ran a lap and then became the cheerleader and bar-b-q chef.

As my endurance lagged I thought of Cory running in Saskatoon on his 7th marathon in 7 days and it was easy to find a second, third and fourth wind. Jocelyn was on hand with water.

God blessed me with enough capacity to run 10.01km and then most every muscle cramped. Cory finished his 42.3km a few minutes after I finished my 10.01km.

Water, a massage, a hotdog, Advil, ice cream, and a Starbucks got me back and at least limping again.

45th

On the 19th for our 45th wedding anniversary we enjoyed some small delicious town cuisine in Coldwater, Ontario, took a walk through a forrest and attended a Ukrainian music festival in Barrie. Ukraine is beginning to take over Jocelyn’s heart as well.

Thank you to everyone for all the b-day wishes and to those who donated to Loads of Love. I’ll update you with a total soon. You can still give for WRR Jones Ukraine until July 1st. Let’s bring it home for Ukraine.

There are events in Bonnyville, AB, Kelowna, BC, and Edmonton, AB still to take place.

Thank you to Masha Ignatenko for designing the event shirts and Rona Fraser for helping with the details while I was in Ukraine.

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