 | Approaching Scotia Toronto Waterfront race weekend, I asked Canada Running Series if I could cover the press conference as a Digital Champion. Happily they agreed! I arrived at the expo and received my media badge (!!!) I made my way to the main stage area, finding many of the seats already filled. It's been said that this year's elite field is the strongest in STWM history. I would have loved to have seen my face when I realized it was those elites that were sitting in the seats around me! The press conference introduced speakers including race director Alan Brookes, Toronto city Councillor Mary Fragedakis and Shane Dolgin from Scotiabank who announced that the sponsorship of the race would continue for another five years! |
This year's race has a very special focus on the charitable side. Each year STWM has many different charities that participants can raise funds for. If you are a follower of my blog you will know that as a Digital Champion I support Jean-Paul Bedard's #JPsTeam which benefits The Gatehouse and Little Warriors. Alan Brookes introduced representatives of several of these charities to present the race bibs to the top elite runners of the race.
Robert MacDonald of the Toronto Rehab Foundation presents Kenyan runners Ishmael Chetan and Julius Arile with their bibs.
Casey Panning of the Toronto Humane Society presents Ethiopian runners Ashete Bekere and Seboka Diababa with their bibs.
Jennifer Lui of Skylark Children, Youth & Families presentsEthiopian runners Sure Demise and Fatima Sado with their bibs.
David Bambek of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada presents bibs to Eric Gillis and Ed Whitlock.
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David Charcoals of Epilepsy Halton and Peel Region presents bibs to Krista DuChene and Rachel Hannah.
Tina Gaisin of Gilda's Club of Greater Toronto presents bibs to Leslie Sexton and Tarah Korir.
Alexandra Preface of Asperger's Society of Ontario presents bibs to BC girls Erin Burrett and Dayna Pidhoresky.
The press conference ended with a group photo of the charitable presenters and elite participants who then had the opportunity to sign the wall before thousands of race participants that would be attending the expo on Friday and Saturday.
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Love these two!
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Allison and her friends Trudy and Dani are running their first marathon on Sunday!
Thanks Cananda Running Series for the opportunity to be here today. I had as much fun as this bunch!
