For many fitness enthusiasts, signing up for a marathon often marks their decision to push the limits. But Thornhill resident Steve Beker decided that just wasn’t enough. Not only did he participate in an ultra-marathon last December, he also convinced his entire family to join him — and raised $8,000 for charity along the way.
An ultra-marathon involves running any distance longer than a traditional 42-kilometre marathon, though there are several different types. For Beker, it was the “one day race” in Arizona that caught his eye, where participants ran as many kilometres as they could within a 24-hour period.
Beker also decided to voluntarily raise money for charity and didn’t hesitate to ask his 10-year-old twins for help.
“It was an important lesson for the kids to learn about fundraising and about those in need,” he said. “You can all help out, and that includes kids, too.”
Raising funds wasn’t their only goal; the family also set their mind on running 250 kilometres altogether, with the hope that the twins would cover about 25 kilometres each. The results were nothing less than spectacular: From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the 10-year-olds each ran more than a marathon.
“I just was in amazement,” said Beker. “I was worried that after an hour they would be, ‘We’re bored, we’re going back to the hotel.’ So this just totally, totally blew me away… I think this is something that they’ll remember for the rest of their life.”
Chai Lifeline was the lucky recipient of the funds the family raised. The charity provides support to families dealing with the repercussions of serious pediatric illness, offering programs to help them retain a sense of normalcy and hope in their lives.
“It’s extremely refreshing to see somebody who’s that thoughtful and believes in us and our cause,” said Mordechai Rothman, regional director of Chai Lifeline. “It’s absolutely incredible.”