Give Our Athletes A Hand

There are many things to admire about the Ottawa Race Weekend.
Its clockwork-like organization. The impressive level of competition at the elite level. Oh, and the mere fact more than 30,000 runners and walkers will be a part of it all.
Many of them, you'll notice, are running for more than just themselves. They've raised money for hospitals that save lives. Or perhaps in memory of a life which was cut short much too sun.
It's called running for a cause.
In less than four hours, I'll line up to do my part.
Canadian Athletes Now (or CAN Fund) is the official national charity of Ottawa Race Weekend. Since it was founded by Ottawa native Jane Roos, the fund has helped smooth the path for hundreds of Canadian athletes chasing their Olympic dreams. The helping hand first arrived before the Sydney 2000 Games and it is still going strong. Four years ago in Athens, about 90 per cent of Canada's team had received some level of assistance from a fund that has been nothing short of a godsend for amateur athletes in this country.
So when the call came out in the Ottawa Senators office to join a 'Sens Army' team of runners/walkers entering the Nordion 5K and raise money for CAN Fund, I didn't hesitate to jump on board. I'm paid by a professional sports team now, but there will always be a special place in my heart for amateur athletes. Every two years on the Olympic stage, they elicit so much Canadian pride but sadly, far too many of them are out of sight, out of mind just about every day in between.
It's literally a daily struggle to compete on the same stage with the rest of the world's best. CAN Fund is all about levelling the playing field and giving our athletes the same resources and opportunities others around the planet enjoy.
I'll be thinking of them all during the Nordion 5K and the red shirt I'll wear — the one that says 'I'm Supporting A Canadian Athlete' — will emphasize that point.
Thanks to all who pledged funds on my behalf for today's event. For those who'd like to know more or lend their support, click on the CAN Fund link to the right or right here.
It's a most worthy cause, indeed.