Rewarding experience

Dear editor:
I would like to use this forum to thank all of the generous people in the district who supported me during my “Joints in Motion” fundraising drive for the Arthritis Society.
Thank you to all of the area businesses that donated prizes for my various events and a big thank you to my friends, neighbours, and co-workers for their generosity in helping me not only meet—but exceed—my target.
Altogether, more than $6,000 was raised to help local arthritis sufferers with therapy, research, and medical aids.
On Oct. 25, 2004, I competed in the Dublin Marathon through the “Joints in Motion” program. Yes, I did finish all 26.2 miles! My time was three hours, 41 minutes, and 34 seconds, which was good enough for 1,850th place out of roughly 11,000 runners.
The whole “Joints in Motion” experience was really rewarding personally—both in terms of the wonderful people I met and accomplishing a goal of mine (finishing a marathon). In fact, I had so much fun, I’m going to do another one.
Part of the program is to choose an “Arthritis Hero” to run for. For my Dublin marathon, I chose my mother.
This time, to show that arthritis affects people of all ages, I would like to choose a young person as my “Arthritis Hero.” If anyone can help me out with the name of a younger local person suffering from this crippling disease, please contact me.
Thank you.
Still running,
Bill Michl
344 Third St. W.,
Fort Frances, Ont.
P9A 3R1
(274-1329)