Posted: August 24, 2007

Athletics: Running to make a difference: Award-Winning Boston Marathoner eyes Toronto run

Runner Profile: L. Kobayashi - Toronto Waterfront Marathon TORONTO, Aug. 24 - In 1981, Lynn Kobayashi threw away her cigarettes and joined the Terry Fox run for cancer research. Fox, a national hero, died June 28, 1981... nine months after cancer forced him to abandon his Marathon of Hope run across Canada. Two and a half decades later, 51 year old Kobayashi is still running strong, setting the 30 K Canadian record in her age group, finishing first in the 50-54 category in the 2006 Chicago Marathon, and third amongst her peers in this year's Boston Marathon. Now, Kobayashi is training for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon, and like Terry Fox before her, Kobayashi is on a mission... this time, to raise money, and awareness for the Philip Aziz Centre, a non-profit home hospice, providing practical, physical, emotional, and spiritual support for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life threatening illnesses. Leading up to the race, she will run up to 165K a week and race the toughest leg of the Klondike Road Relay, stretching from Alaska to the Yukon. As the mother of a child diagnosed with retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina) Kobayashi understands the important role of trained volunteers who provide time, compassion, and commitment necessary to make the journey of a patient with a serious illness more manageable and meaningful. Says Kobayashi, "As an active volunteer organizer for nearly two decades, I've learned to pick and choose where I donate time and money. Meeting the volunteers and staff of the Philip Aziz Centre convinced me that they have the world-class passion for this profound cause and work ethic necessary to turn their good intentions into outstanding results." And so Lynn Kobayashi trains for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, in a bid to create awareness... and to raise money for the Philip Aziz Centre. If you would like to join Lynn Kobayashi's quest to make the Philip Aziz Centre the top fund raising group at the upcoming Toronto Waterfront Marathon, September 30th... there are several ways you can help. If you're a runner, join the Philip Aziz Centre (PAC) team and register for the marathon through their website: www.philipazizcentre.ca The Philip Aziz Centre is a registered charity, and corporate help and donations are always welcome. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest