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Patrick 4 Life Runs the Waterfront Marathon
Despite the looming rainclouds, the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon today was a total success.
Instead of recapping the walk or posting a gallery, I thought I'd share a quick story of one (extended) family who ran the marathon today to raise awareness and funds for a cause dear to their heart.
Patrick 4 Life is the name of the organization established by the proud and determined parents of Patrick Fortin. Patrick was born a severe hemophiliac, relying on bi-weekly blood infusions to stay alive. When he was 7 (in 1986), he contracted HIV from Canada's tainted blood supply and despite perservering and living and giving his all to life, he died in 2001 at the age of 23.
Since Patrick's death, Christian and Christine Fortin have set up Patrick 4 Life to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness and to help raise funds to establish a Children's Hospice in Toronto, the first in Canada providing respite and hospice care for children and families facing life-threatening illnesses and specializing in HIV/AIDS.
This year they were one of the few organisations that gained official charity status with the Scotiabank Marathon, and so, Patrick's parents, siblings, and cousins all came together and ran the marathon in honour of Patrick's bravery.
To learn more about their mission, visit Patrick4Life.org.
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I was Patrick Fortin's cousin. I did the 5 km walk at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I am so proud to be a part of the Patrick4Life team and will stay on it.
I do all of this because I owe it to him, and I KNOW he would have been proud of every individual who participated in the Patrick4Life team and everyone who supported them as well.
Thank you so much Christine and Christian Fortin for everything you have done to honour Patrick's memory, ours as well, and GREAT RUN!!!
I am also one of patricks cousins,today i ran and walk the half-marathon in toronto
my 2 one in 4 months for patrick. I am 11 years old and i still remember him, respect him and i will never forget him .Every time i run or walk and i can feel the pain in my leggs i think of him and how much pain he had to live whit.And thank you so much Cristine and Cristian fortin for caring for patrick and helpin others so that people understand Aids and being aware of its illness.