Leora, Toronto ON

“You’re making a bigger difference than you know!”

When I first decided that I wanted to volunteer my time, I had no idea the impact I might have on those I was helping, and I certainly did not realize the effect it would have on me! I did not know I would meet so many beautiful kids and dedicated fellow volunteers, and that I would learn quite so much from them.

My favourite Start2Finish story happened on the day of the big 5K run. It was my first year experiencing the event, and the energy and excitement was terrific. One of the kids in our group, Ivy, seemed to be overwhelmed. She felt it was too much, she wasn’t fast enough, and she couldn’t grasp the distance of 5K. In her mind, it felt like forever, and she felt a bit defeated. I joined in alongside her, and we ended up staying together the entire run. There were times when she stopped, tears welling up in her eyes, other students running past us, and she declared, “I just can’t do it.” She said she wasn’t sure if her parents would be waiting for her. Her mood had turned, and she was feeling pretty down and out. I continued to push and made sure that even after each little rest stop, she kept going. We talked, she told me about her upcoming vacation and the other activities she liked to do, and I tried to keep her distracted, so she didn’t even realize she was still running. I reminded her that I had already seen her run this distance in our group training and that I wasn’t going to leave her until we crossed the finish line together, even if we walked it.

When we started to approach the finish line, and the crowds were cheering, I could see her demeanour change and all that encouragement helped push her along. She sped up her pace, and she squeezed my hand tight as we raced each other across the line. Once across the line, I heard her parents shouting for her. They were waiting anxiously to hug and congratulate her. She was beaming from are to ear over her accomplishment, and I walked away happy that she was delighted. Suddenly Ivy’s parents approached me, told me that they all wanted to say thank you for helping her, that she had pointed me out to them in the crowd and said, “that’s MY COACH, she ran with me!”. I wasn’t expecting this interaction, and I saw firsthand how my encouragement had made a difference. I walked away, fighting back the tears.

This year I see Ivy each week, and she is already running faster and longer than she was last year. I want to think that finishing last year’s race taught her she can do it and to push herself a little harder. Hopefully, that thought process bleeds into other activities and tasks she attempts over the years, and it’s nice to know I may have helped contribute to that confidence.

These are the unexpected gains that surprise you when you are a part of Start2Finish that the impact lasts longer than just a Tuesday afternoon in the gym.

 

Land Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge the land on which we work, and which Start2Finish operates, is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples inhabited and cared for this land. In particular, we acknowledge the territory of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples; the land that is home to the Metis; and most recently, the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation who are direct descendants of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land, and by doing so, give our respect to its first inhabitants.

We welcome you to acknowledge the land you are on https://www.whose.land/fr/

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