Meet The Golden Horseshoe Marathon Athletes As They Prepare for Their 5 Day / 212 km Marathon from Niagara Falls to Queen’s Park in Toronto for Spinal Regeneration Research
Meet 3 of the wheelchair athletes of the Golden Horseshoe Marathon and their Sept. 10 - 14, 2005, 5 day / 212 km Route.
Hamilton, Ontario (PRWEB) July 22, 2005 -- From Saturday, September 10 to
Wednesday, September 14, the members of the Golden Horseshoe Marathon will be
wheeling their 5 day / 212 km Marathon from Niagara Falls to Queen’s Park to
raise money and awareness for Spinal Regeneration Research that is being
conducted at Hamilton’s McMaster University led my Dr. Michel Rathbone. The goal
this year is $500,000.00
It is at this time we would like to introduce to
you, three of the members of the Golden Horseshoe Marathon who will be in this
years event:
LES McLAUGHLIN: Previous to his accident, Les McLaughlin was
an Emergency Response Technician for Toronto Hydro, who enjoyed jogging,
canoeing, bike riding, riding horseback, and camping, to name but a few of his
favorite activities. Les’s accident occurred in June of 1999, after which he
underwent two operations and one year of intense rehabilitation. He is
wheelchair bound but was able to return to work in November of 2001. Today his
resume reads about the same: he is a System Performance Technician for Toronto
Hydro (in his 21st year!), who enjoys computers, canoeing, hand bike riding and
camping, to name but a few of his favorite activities. Leslie McLaughlin has
served as the Captain of the Golden Horseshoe Marathon team for the last 3
years. This year he is serving as Chairman.
HARVEY UPPAL: Harvey Uppal
could serve as an inspiration for us all; not only as a diversely skilled
individual, but for his courage in the face of adversity. Born in Britain,
Harvey immigrated to Vancouver in 1977. A trained industrial electrician, he
assumed the position as head electrician for a local mill. As testament to his
entrepreneurial nature, Harvey also began a mushroom farm in 1981. Happily
married and the proud father of three, Harvey had little idea his life was about
to change. In 1989, Harvey was involved in a serious accident. Pinned under a
piece of heavy equipment, Harvey was left irrevocably paralyzed. A man of
unshakeable spirit, Harvey continued to run his business despite his injury.
Harvey and his family relocated to Burlington, Ontario in 1991 where he bought
and continues to manage a motel. Harvey has also become an active participant in
the Golden Horseshoe Marathon through his friendship with founder Charlie
Cetinski. Thus far, he has taken part in two marathons and he trains every day.
Harvey is a very active individual especially in supporting any scientific
research that may lead to a cure for spinal cord injury.
DUC GIANG: Duc
Giang sustained his spinal cord injury in 1999, having just completed his first
year of university. This accident would serve to change his academic major but
certainly not his drive or community wide initiatives. A few of his many
involvements include: CPA wheelchair relay participant and team leader; a member
of AIESEC; and founder of the Rye Investment Group. He has also received many
awards for his community activities acknowledging both his spirit and his
commitment to promoting awareness of students with disabilities. Duc graduated
in June of 2004 with a Bachelor Degree in Commerce, having majored in IT
management and minored in Finance. He has been involved with the Golden
Horseshoe Marathon for two years now. It would be unlike Duc to stop at being
simply a participant in the marathon; he is also a fundraiser, trustee and the
webmaster.
2005 Golden Horseshoe Marathon Route:
Day 1 – Saturday,
September 10, 2005:
Start – 10:00 am Niagara Falls – Fallsview Blvd &
Livingstone St. – (Public Participants join the Marathon athletes for approx 5
km). L on Main St, R on Stanley Ave, R on Victoria Ave, R on Queen St to City
Hall (Public Participation Ends Here), exit City Hall, L on Queen St, R on
Victoria Ave, L on River Road which turns into the Niagara Parkway to
Niagara-on-the-Lake. Lunch Stop at McFarlane House (22.5 km). Follow Niagara
Parkway onto Queen’s Parade then Picton St and Queen St L on Mississauga St, R
on Mary St which becomes Lakeshore Rd, L on East West Line, R on Four Mile Creek
Rd, R on Penner St, L on Concession 6 Rd, L on Niagara Stone Rd to Virgil Town
Hall – Stop at approx 3:30 pm. Total – 42.8 km.
Day 2 – Sunday, September
11, 2005:
Start – 10:00 am Virgil Town Hall – Four Mile Creek Rd, L on
Lakeshore Rd, L on Niagara St (St. Catharines), R on Church St, R on James to
City Hall, exit City Hall on James St (turns into Lake), L on Lakeport Rd. Lunch
Stop at Lakeside Park (22.6 km). Exit Park onto Lakeport Rd, L on Main St which
turns into Lakeshore Rd, L on 7th Street Louth, R on North Service Rd, L on
Victoria Ave, R on South Service Rd, L on Bartlett Rd to Lincoln Town Hall –
Stop at approx 3:30 pm. Total – 44 km.
Day 3 – Monday, September 12,
2005:
Start – 10:00 am Lincoln Town Hall (Bartlett Rd) – R on South Service
Rd, L on Book Rd, R on Main St E which turns into Livingston Ave, Stop at
Grimsby Town Hall, L on Casablanca Blvd, R on Main St W which turns into Hwy #8.
Lunch Stop at Stoney Creek City Hall (arrive at Noon). Exit City Hall back onto
Hwy #8 which turns into Main St E, R on King St E, R on Forsythe Ave to Mayfair
Cres and double back to McMaster University entrance – Stop at approx 3:30 pm.
Total – 43.4 km
Day 4 – Tuesday, September 13, 2005:
Start – 10:00 am
Wellington St (General Hospital) – R on Cannon St to York Blvd which turns into
Plains Rd W which then turns into Plains Rd E, R on Maple Ave, L on Lakeshore
Rd, L on Brant to City Hall on Brant, L on Lakeshore Rd. Lunch Stop at Nelson
Park. Exit park back onto Lakeshore Rd which turns into Lakeshore Rd W
(Oakville) to the first entrance of the Petro Canada Parking Lot – Stop at
approx 3:30 pm. Total 42 km.
Day 5 – Wednesday, September 14,
2005:
Start – 10:00 am Oakville City Hall – Exit City Hall onto Trafalgar Rd,
L on South Service Rd E, R on Royal Windsor Dr which turns into Lakeshore Rd W
which then turns into Lakeshore Rd E. Lunch Stop at Marie Curtis Park (20 km).
Exit Park R onto Lakeshore Rd E which turns into Lakeshore Rd W (Toronto), L on
Bay Street to City Hall (enter at Albert St), Public Participants join here for
approx 2 km, exit City Hall via Albert St, L on Bay St, L on Dundas St, R on
University Ave to Queen’s Park – Stop at approx 3:30 pm. Total 42.4
km.
Throughout the event, the Team and volunteers will be collecting
money for Spinal Cord Regeneration Research as well as a variety of special
fundraising events will be sponsored by the Lions Club.
Individuals,
municipalities, schools, organizations and corporations wishing to participate
by becoming sponsors of the 2005 Golden Horseshoe Marathon are invited to visit
www.goldenhorseshoemarathon.org or call (905)
826-8122.
This year, during the Marathon, hourly updates will be
available to all members of the media via e-mail and 60 second live remotes with
the compliments of the TalkStar Radio Network on the progress of the athletes
during their 5 day Marathon available on Galaxy 4 R and AMC 4 or on
talkstarradio.com streaming audio. Members of the media wishing further
information, please contact Rob McConnell at (905) 575-5916.
For more
information on the 2005 Golden Horseshoe Marathon, please contact:
Les
McLaughlin, Chairman,
The Golden Horseshoe Marathon,
(905)
826-8122
Or
Rob McConnell,
Media and Public Relations,
(905)
575-5916
The Golden Horseshoe Marathon is affiliated with the
International Institute for Spinal Regeneration who maintains their head office
in Hamilton, Ontario – www.iisr.net.
Rob McConnell,
Executive
Director,
International Institute for Spinal Regeneration,
762 Upper James
Steet, Suite 266,
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L9C 3A2
Tel: (905) 575-5916 /
Fax: (905) 575-5066
Website: www.iisr.net
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb264052.htm