iRun iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie, Ontario
iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have done – James Sauve, Ottawa, ON
iRun because it makes me feel good, allows me to spend time with my friends and gives me a feeling of accomplishment – Helen Kolodziejzyk, Calgary, AB
iRun for the cool t-shirts! – Pina Bevilacqua, Ontario
iRun iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario
iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Sarah Kallaghan, Alberta
iRun iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba
iRun iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! – Cathy Brzoza, British Columbia
iRun because otherwise I’m grumpy – Alexandre Charest, Quebec
iRun iRun to feel great – Kathryn Rachar, Saskatchewan
iRun to prove to them that iCan – Catherine Smith, Manitoba
iRun because it cleans up my life, because I drink more water, sleep better and eat healthier foods – Robin McIntyre, Ottawa, ON
iRun for the challenge to go faster and farther – Steven Matejka, Alberta
iRun because it makes me a better person, a better wife, a better mother and a better friend – Nathalie Joncas-Caissie, St-Antoine, NB
iRun iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell, Quebec
iRun iRun to eat – Maureen Tritscher, Alberta
iRun iRun because i love to – Mirella Petriello, Ontario
iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario
iRun iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state – Tammy Rainville, Ontario
iRun iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment – Amber Moase, Nova Scotia
iRun because it gets my husband out there – Tricia LaLonde, Alberta
iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia
iRun iRun because it's better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey, Ontario
iRun because it’s better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey, Ontario
iRun iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul – Sonia Mendes, Ontario
iRun for health, iRun for life – Pat Cheung, British Columbia
iRun because running is like breathing to – Stephanie McEvoy, Ontario
iRun iRun to kickstart my day – Sharon Strueby, Saskatchewan
iRun to stay ahead of the weight gain – Myra Abstreiter, Alberta
iRun iRun away from the abyss – Charlene Thomas, Ontario
iRun iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia
iRun iRun because it's a great stress release – Brooke McKenzie, Yukon
iRun because it’s cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter, Alberta
iRun because I need it to soothe the soul, keep me in shape and for overall wellbeing – Beth Neil, Lombardy, ON
iRun because all the ladies are chasing my sexy runner’s body – Chris Baker, Etobicoke, ON
iRun but not enough – Michael Shaw, New Westminister, BC
iRun iRun because it's cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter, Alberta
iRun iRun so that I can live longer and stronger – Derek MacPhail, Ontario
iRun iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin – Charlyn McGregor, Saskatchewan
iRun to someday win the race – Lindy Dunlop, Yukon
iRun because it gives my day a boost of energy – Sara Campbell, Nova Scotia
iRun because it’s in me – Michael Foley, Stittsville, ON
iRun because it’s fun when it’s done – Sue Matte, Ontario
iRun because I can’t dance – Mario Javier, Ontario
iRun iRun to eat more, especially sweet potatoe fries – Joanna Skomra, Ontario
iRun iRun for me! – Judi Wearing, Saskatchewan
iRun because iLoves my man – Beverly Huang, Alberta
iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland
iRun to inspire my kids to try – Glen Johnston, Nunavut
iRun because I love the solitude – Janene Tailleur, British Columbia
iRun so I can eat ice cream – Sandy Bolan, Ontario
iRun iRun all the livelong day – Pierre Saint-Laurent, Québec
iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Carlene Paquette, Carp, ON
iRun because somebody once told me I couldn’t – Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan
iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful country – Cheryl Carter, Clearwater , BC
iRun because it’s like flying, only lower – Glenn Johnson, Ontario
iRun because people around me inspire me – Pina Bevilacqua, Caledon, ON
iRun iRun to challenge my perceived limitations – Cassandra Williams, Ontario
iRun because I like buying running clothes – Pamela Blaikie, Ontario
iRun because I never thought I would be able to – Gary Morris, Winnipeg, MB
iRun iRun for the individual pursuit – Robert Pelletier, New Brunswick
iRun because when I run I feel most alive – Meghan Lynch, Ottawa, ON
iRun to unleash my inner athlete – Adelle Densham, Avonmore, ON
iRun iRun because I like to be healthy – Melanie Oickle, New Brunswick
iRun for the moment when both feet are off the ground – Catherine Anderson, British Columbia
iRun iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge – Tim Nixon, British Columbia
iRun away from the negative and towards the positive – Teri Lepard, Alberta
iRun iRun because it sure beats the bus – Robin Robbins, Alberta
iRun because I am not as clumsy I thought I was – Hanna Baer, Quebec
iRun iRun because walking is too slow – Barry Knapp, Ontario
iRun so I don’t say never ever again – Linda Klaric, Manitoba
iRun iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live – Pascale Synnott, Québec
iRun because there is no finish line – Claire Kilgour, Ontario
iRun because I want to qualify for Boston and raise money for charities near and dear to my heart – Christine Gracel, Calgary, AB
iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentally – Kathleen Keenan, Brampton, ON
iRun to prove to myself I can – Lesley McGougan, Brampton, ON
iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia
iRun therefore I am – Duncan Walsh, Nottingham, UK
iRun because I can and I’m grateful – Terry SanCartier, Gatineau, QC
iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell, Quebec
iRun because my heart tells me to – William Martin, Manitoba
iRun so my daughters know that they can, too – Shelley Kirkpatrick, New Brunswick
iRun for overall wellbeing – Trish McCourt, Halifax, NS
iRun because I get foot rubs afterward – Kate Howerton, British Columbia
iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba
iRun iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland
iRun because I’ve lost 80 lbs and running has become fun – Cheryl Kelly, Ontario
iRun iRun to inspire my children! – Wendy Bowen, Manitoba
iRun and run, and run, and run, and nobody can stop me – Andrei Lucaciu, Ontario
iRun see where my feet will take me today – Megan Dolinskas, New York
iRun because I cannot say no to a second slice of chocolate cake – Emily Shandruk, Vancouver, BC
iRun because food tastes better afterwards – Patrick Houston, Alberta
iRun because it makes me whole – Denis Ladouceur, Quebec
iRun because it reminds me of how strong I can be – Monique Lavoie, Ontario
iRun whenever I feel the need to escape – Iona Hillis, Ontario
iRun because not everyone can – Olivia Harvey, New Brunswick
iRun because it’s a great way to see the world – Sherry Mahoney, British Columbia
iRun to my happy place and some days it’s very – Doreen May, Alberta
iRun because the wall is meant to be broken – Jonathan Bird, Ontario
iRun to get to know myself, my strength and my spirit – Lisa Groulx, Ontario
iRun iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario
iRun iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia
iRun iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia
iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn’t – Peter Cicalo, Ontario
iRun because I live – Georges Schneller, Laval, QC
iRun because I want to be a role model for our six kids – Catherine Empey, British Columbia
iRun because I want to live to be 100! – Colette DeJean, Ontario
iRun iRun because it helps me see things more clearly – Jennifer Pitts, Ontario
iRun because of the peace and strength it brings me – Michelle Jordan, Ottawa, ON
iRun because it has saved my life – John Marshall, Alberta
iRun iRun to correct years of sedentary living! – Mike Scott, Ontario
iRun for me – Kiza Francis, Ottawa,ON
iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario
iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing me – Teresa Sterling, Ottawa , ON
iRun iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't – Peter Cicalo, Ontario
iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia
iRun to stay fit and release those running endorphins – Liliana Plava, Calgary, AB
iRun iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't – Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan

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Running for his son's life
When David Harris lost his son Cameron to suicide, he was training for his first marathon. Now, he's in the midst of running one for every year of Cameron's life and launching a new foundation, Cameron Helps, that will raise awareness and even fight teen depression. The Mississauga Marathon in May was his fourth of 19 marathons for Cameron.
In 2004, I was over 200 pounds and not very happy with myself, and I wanted to make a change. So right at the beginning of the year, I decided to change my lifestyle. I started to walk a bit, started to run a bit, started to eat better. The running turned into more running and I was sitting around one night and thought, "I'm going to run a marathon."
I started training in October 2004. By December, I'd lost 40 pounds.
My oldest son, Cameron, was 19 at the time. He was experiencing things in school, but nothing that would really be out of the ordinary for a teenager. He was active in sports and he had a girlfriend that he was very, very fond of. In the fall of that year, she went off to university. He had to finish another year of school. She broke up with him, and he was devastated. He started to slip away and get depressed.
His mother and I got him in to see the doctor and got him looked after. At least that was what we thought. We got him on some medication, hoping that would get him on the right track. We went back in a month and everything seemed to be going along better. But it wasn't. He was hiding the fact that it was not getting any better. In fact, it was getting worse.
February 14 came around. I got a call from his mom saying that Cameron had missed school on the Friday. I called him on his cell phone three times. He never called back. The next morning came around and I went to work. The end of the day came around. His mother called and said, "Cameron's still not home. He's left a couple of cassettes with notes on them saying, 'give this to my friend.'"
My wife Yvonne and Cameron's mother stayed in the house, while my son Jeremy and I and some of Cameron's friends went out looking for him. Half an hour after that I got a call from Yvonne. They'd found him in the basement and he had hanged himself.
My wife and my ex-wife had the task of getting him down and when I got there he was in the arms of his mom.
It was the worst nightmare you can imagine. The next couple of weeks were a bit of a blur. I really don't know what happened. My family and friends helped so much in that time to pull me and my family through to get on with our lives.
After three days of no sleep I decided to go out for a run. I just couldn't sit around any more. I had to do something.
I could not just sit idly by, not doing anything about this. I was a parent thinking I was doing the right thing - trying to do the right thing - and it turned out it wasn't. There was very little information out there on depression for teens.
I know now that there should have been counseling involved. There should have been other steps other than just slapping him with some medication and saying, "come see me in a month." The more I ran, the more I said, "I have to do something." Two weeks after Cameron's funeral, I got a group of friends together. That was the beginning of Cameron Helps. The goal was to raise awareness about teen suicide and provide assistance to families who had gone through it.
We worked diligently over the next seven months. After not even running one marathon, I said, "I'm going to run nineteen of these things. And dedicate each to a year of his life."
This last year, I started doing a teen running program. It was very difficult for me to do because in a lot of these kids, I could certainly see Cameron. The goal is to establish some community runs and get not only the parents involved, but the kids and the schools. And talk openly about teen depression. We want to really help as a community to alleviate the stigma.
The first one, called the Find a Way 5k, will be in June 2009 in Mississauga. My hope is that we'll have a blueprint. I want to have Cameron Helps chapters across the country.
The research that we've done and that others have done show that exercise certainly does help with depression.
I've found this whole process for me to be so therapeutic. I'm getting so much back from this. I can attribute a lot of this to just running. Running has saved my life. And continues to do so.
Because of my love of running, I think it's a great way for us to get the message out. I cannot imagine not being a marathon runner. That is so much who I am now. I've done five so far.
When I run a marathon, it's all about Cameron. I always wear 23 because that was his number. I always have a picture of him on my bib. I try to remember what he was like in that year of his life. I've really tried hard to rejoice in his life rather than grieve about it.
At the end of every race, I completely break down, because it is such an emotional thing for me. It's not easy, but if you work hard and if you believe in yourself and if you strive to do better, you can do amazing things.
I proved it to myself. Just running a marathon for anybody is such a tremendous accomplishment. But I want to take it to the next level and I want to go to the Holy Grail: Boston.
In Mississauga, I shaved 24 minutes off my time and I'm proud of that. But I missed qualifying for Boston by a minute and 22 seconds. But I get 15 more tries. I know that I can do it.
I was getting down to the last 4k, and this woman - I have no idea who she was - yelled out, "Run for your son, Dave." I lost it then.
I've really tried hard to take an absolutely terrible situation and make it into something positive. I can hardly wait until the next marathon.
For more information on David and Cameron, visit cameronhelps.ca.
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