An Alexandria, Ont. man with a zest for all times is overcoming obstacles and attaining objectives by operating in races together with his walker.
On Saturday, 74-year-old Bob Hardy participated within the annual Santa Shuffle to assist elevate cash for these in want.
“I’ve at all times been aggressive, I simply love the environment,” Hardy stated.
Hardy, higher often known as “The Walker Runner,” has logged greater than 12,000 kilometers prior to now 10 years racing together with his walker.
“I began utilizing the walker as a result of I misplaced my steadiness due to a collection of well being issues,” Hardy stated. “[I had leukemia] I nonetheless have cancerous tumors on my kidneys, blood clots after which lastly final 12 months, I had colon most cancers.”
Over time, his record of accomplishments continues to develop, together with a number of marathons and a 100-kilometer ultra-marathon. He even has a black belt.
After a crash in April, he is again working in direction of new objectives together with his new and improved customized walker.
It has a low centre of gravity for enhanced stability and a set of winter tires to assist overcome obstacles and preserve stability at excessive speeds.
“After I run flat out, which I am not going to do as we speak, it would not tip over,” stated Hardy.
The five-kilometer fun-run and one kilometer stroll raises cash for the Salvation Military’s Bethany Hope Centre on Woodroffe Avenue.
“We’re a centre that helps younger mum or dad households and it is definitely seeing a rise in households reaching out for assist with rising costs and meals and important objects,” stated Stacey Alexander, useful resource improvement coordinator with the Salvation Military.
Regardless of all of the challenges and setbacks, Hardy says he is trying ahead to setting new objectives in 2025.
“I am trying ahead to going to Germany and racing within the World Transplant Video games, representing Canada,” he stated.
