October 7, 2013
TORONTO–Former Olympic rower Sarah (Bonikowsky) Chaudhery will team up with Paralympic Rower Victoria Nolan to run in the Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon on Sunday, October 20, 2013. The event begins at 8:45 a.m.
The two women will run the 21-kilometre distance, tethered together. Victoria (2012 and 2008 Paralympic Games), who is blind, will wrap a lanyard around her wrist. Sarah (Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and bronze medal winner in the 2011 Pan American Games) will loop the other end of the lanyard over her elbow.
The two athletes are running to raise funds for Scripture Union’s “Every Kid Camp” initiative. Every Kid Camps have been specially planned by a registered occupational therapist to include children with different needs and abilities.
The cause is one both women passionately support. “As someone who has a disability it’s really hard for me to get out and be physically active,” says Victoria. “I often have to rely on other people to support me. So the chance to do this run–and give back to children who also need support–is a great opportunity. I think if I had had that kind of support as a child, I’d be better off today.”
Sarah–who is an Occupational Therapist–oversees major sporting events and outreach for Scripture Union. “I got involved in occupational therapy because I was really interested in ways that I could help people get involved in sports,” she says. “It’s really interesting that God called me to Scripture Union, because I’m using both my physical gifts and my training as an O.T. to help kids get involved in sports through the Every Kid Camps.
Scripture Union Canada’s entire staff of eight, along with board members and friends, will join the two women to form a team of 17 runners and walkers. The event, which is part of the Scotiabank Marathon Charity Challenge, will be an attempt to raise $40,000 towards implementing Every Kid Camps.
“Our goal is that no child should be turned away from camp,” says Lawson Murray, President of Scripture Union Canada “due to a lack of supportive facilities or programming.” This summer, Scripture Union Canada facilitated 29 camps across Ontario, three of which were designated Every Kid Camps. “Our long-term goal is to incorporate Every Kid Camp programming into as many of our camps as possible,” says Lawson.
Scripture Union–which dates from 1879 in this country, making it one of the earliest Christian ministries in Canada–is active in 140 countries around the world, introducing children and young people to Jesus.
For interviews or information:
Website: http://www.scriptureunion.ca
Contact: Sarah (Bonikowsky) Chaudhery
Email: sarah@scriptureunion.ca
Phone: (905) 427-4947
CLICK HERE for Photo 1 (Victoria Nolan left and Sarah (Bonikowsky) Chaudhery right)
CLICK HERE for Photo 2 (Victoria Nolan left and Sarah (Bonikowsky) Chaudhery right)