Martin Parnell Finish the Race Attitude

Next Events:

Hockey Quest 500 (Quest #6)

• Saturday January 19th 2013

• 8.00am to 5.00pm

• Location: Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, Cochrane, Alberta

• Click here to sign up: HQ500

Kilimanjaro Quest 95.2 (Quest #7)

• Sunday March 3rd to March 6th 2013

• Run the marathon then 3 days later climb the mountain.

• Location: Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

• Click here to sign up: KQ95.2

This is the time of year for those dreaded New Year's Resolutions and one that is at the top of many people's lists is "Getting Fit". The credit card comes out and it's off to the nearest gym. In January, the treadmills are humming along, the weight machines are going up and down and bodies are strewn all over the floor bending and stretching until every muscle aches. Then February arrives and it's not so crowded. Definitely more machines available and no more line ups for the "Step Master". The bloom has gone off the rose.

So what happened? Why have so many of these folks, who were so committed in January to their "Fitness" resolution, stopped? I'm sure there are many answers to this confounding question but I think one of them is that it just wasn't fun. As kids, we would head out and play. Back then it wasn't about getting fit, it was being active and learning new things. We'd hook up with friends and go exploring, climb a tree and run as fast as we could across a field while being chased by a herd of cows. Every day was an adventure and we'd learn something new. As adults we seem to have lost the path. Play is looked at as a thing that kids do and you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Well enough is enough. Let's put the fun back into fitness. Time to learn something new. In 2009 Sue and I took up snowshoeing and have had some incredible days out in Bragg Creek and Kananaskis country. In 2011, at the age of 55, I learned to play netball and in 2012 I took up lacrosse. It was definitely a challenge but I got lots of help along the way.

On December 31^st at the 3^rd Annual Marathon Quest 250 Run / Walk I met a number of people who were trying some thing for the first time. Magnus aged 15 completed his first half marathon and Kent his first marathon. That day, while jogging along the Bow River pathway, I was chatting with my friend Ally. She loves her running and triathlons but she is going to try something new in 2013. She had heard about the Hockey Quest 500 Guinness World Record attempt on January 19^th and signed up. The only issue is that she's never played the game before. So she picked up some gear and for the last couple of months she's been playing pick-up hockey.

Do I have anything new planned for this year? Well, in early December Sue and I went to the World Sledge Hockey Challenge at the Winsport Ice Complex at Canadian Olympic Park. We watched the gold medal game between Canada and the USA and I was so impressed with the athletes that I asked Jon Bateman, President of the Calgary Sledge Hockey Association if I could "give it a go". So on Wednesday, January 9^th, I'm heading down to the Joan Snyder arena for a pick up game.

Sue is keen to have a go, at Pickleball and, in the summer, I'm going to give her some tennis coaching. So, whether it's on your own or with a friend or partner, why not try something new. After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Let the fun begin.

Quote of the Day

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken"

Oscar Wilde

Running to the finish line with kids and adults at the end of the 3rd Annual Marathon Quest 250 Run / Walk on December 31st 2012.

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Next Events:

Hockey Quest 500 (Quest #6)

• Saturday January 19th 2013

• 8.00am to 5.00pm

• Location: Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, Cochrane, Alberta

Kilimanjaro Quest 95.2 (Quest #7)

• Sunday March 3rd to March 6th 2013

• Run the marathon then 3 days later climb the mountain.

• Location: Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

• Click here to sign up: KQ95.2

The first weekend in January I spent at the Chapters store in Crowfoot. Julia, the store manager, had scheduled me in for a book signing and at 11.00am sharp each day I had my stall set up. During the two days I had many great conversations with the shoppers and sold a number of books. One particular conversation I had was with Glenda and her son Marcus. I had been in contact with Glenda on face book and she wanted to know how she could support "Quests for Kids". One idea she had was for her son to complete a 55km x-country ski "birkie" which I thought was a great idea. They bought a book and Glenda said she'd be in touch.

A week later I received this email "I've been reading your book and it has really resonated with me (I'm just at the "Right To Play" chapter). We all have a story and sports have changed my life as well. I saw a t-shirt at the Running Room and it said, "Running, it's cheaper than therapy." Loved it! I have always said that I have skied my demons away and that is where I am at peace and with God! You have helped our family with your Marathon Quest, sports have helped me and my children and we would like to "pass it forward."

Glenda went on to say that she had chatted with her husband Richard and other son, Derek, and they wanted to do a number of events and fund raise during 2013. On Sunday evening I dropped over to their house and we talked about Right To Play and their activities around the world. We then brainstormed ideas for events they could do. The one I liked was from the boys. They want to do a 5km race, one on stilts, the other on a pogo stick. Count me in. Later that evening, I left their house and was so impressed with what they wanted to do as a family. They will do events individually or together, raise funds for a great cause (they're shooting for $25,000) and have loads of fun.

You can help them along their way. Just go to: http://righttoplay.akaraisin.com/TransRockiesQuest888/b8bd0890c3c94f77a21b737f0b36bdc4 and check out their site. Make a donation and maybe join them for one of their events. In life you don't have to do a lot but you have to do something. Go Zamzow Family Go.

Quote of the Day

"An ordinary family attempting an extraordinary challenge"

Glenda Zamzow

The Zamzow family; Derek, Glenda, Marcus and Richard, looking forward to the year ahead. Let the games begin.

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Next Events:

Kilimanjaro Quest 95.2 (Quest #7)

• Sunday March 3rd to March 6th 2013

• Run the marathon then 3 days later climb the mountain.

• Location: Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

• Click here to sign up: KQ95.2

Once in a while an event comes along that brings people together from diverse backgrounds, cultures and ages for a common goal. Hockey Quest 500 (HQ500) was such an event.

Last weekend HQ500 was part of the 5^th Annual Kimmett Cup pond hockey tournament. The planning had started immediately after the 4^th Annual tournament. Reid Kimmett had talked to me about combing the two events and I was totally on board. We agreed that the fundraising from the entire weekend would go to Right To Play and we should set a target of $100,000. HQ500 would be an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most players in an exhibition game of hockey. If the attempt was successful it would be the first time the record had ever been set.

The puck was dropped at 8.00am on Saturday morning at Totem 2 in the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre. Each player had to play at least 10 minutes and control the puck at least once. During the day line after line went on the ice and here is a profile on some of the players:

• Lau Mafuru: Lau is from Tanzania and never skated before. He started to learn 2 months ago and 3 weeks ago he took a major spill. He split his lip and had to get 5 stitches. On Saturday, he became a Guinness World Record holder.

• Charlie Masciangelo: Charlie is 12 years old and loves the Guinness World Record book. On Saturday he played his 10 minutes and scored 3 goals. Even better than that he raised $701 for Right To Play and, with matching funds, this will help 56 kids.

• Glenda and her son Derek Zamzow: Glenda and Derek took to the ice for the first time on Saturday and completed their 10 minute shift. This is the first of 10 events the Zamzow family have committed to in 2013. Their objective is to raise $25,000 for Right To Play and, with matching funds, help 2,000 children.

In total there were 375 players involved in HQ500. Ages ranged from 5 to 65. Mums, dads, brothers, sisters, uncle and aunties were all involved. There were even two players wearing tutu's.

We now have to wait. All the documentation is being compiled for Guinness and will be sent in by Monday. Then we have to wait another week before we know if the record is official. However, what ever the outcome, the children of the world win.

Quote of the Day

"Don't wait for your ship to come in......swim out and meet the bloody thing"

Barry Sheene, world motorcycle racing champion

Derek Zamzow goes for goal during Hockey Quest 500.

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Next Events:

Kilimanjaro Quest 95.2 (Quest #7)

• Sunday March 3rd to March 6th 2013

• Run the marathon then 3 days later climb the mountain in 24 hours.

• Location: Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

On Monday, January 28^th a cheque for $31,782.39 was donated, by the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation, to the Kimmett Cup / Hockey Quest 500 donation page. This action triggered a number of outcomes.

• The first was that it brought the total for the event to $91,826.42, only $8,000 away from our target of $100,000.

• The second was that it brought the donation figure raised for the "Quests for Kids" initiative to $523,362.58.

• The third and most important result is that the number of children helped, with Right To Play programs, hit 10,467. When you add in the matching donations from Right To Play partners this figure jumps to 21,192 children.

My original objective for "Quests for Kids" was to complete 10 "Quests" in 5 years, raise $1m and help 20,000 children with Right To Play programs. The twenty one thousand, one hundred and ninety second program has been delivered but "Quests for Kids" continues. I still have 4 Quests to do, 2 years to do them and $476,637.42 to raise. I like to keep track of the pennies, because every penny counts.

I have had a lot of help over the last three years and in particular I would like to thank my strategic partners. These are 4iiii Innovations, Back on Track, Boma Africa, Downunder Travel, Ink'd Graphics, Rocky Mountain Books, Rotary Club of Cochrane and TransRockies Events.

Since 2009, when I began fundraising for Right To Play, the organization has been making big strides around the globe. Every week, their programs reach over 800,000 children. These programs encourage long-term behaviour change in four critical areas of development: Basic education and child development; health promotion and disease prevention; conflict resolution and peace building; and community development and participation. Almost 50% of those children are female. Local, volunteer coaches implement programs designed around the needs of the communities. Working with these coaches, 5,000 junior leaders, some as young as 8 years old, are empowered to make decisions, facilitate discussions and lead educational games.

In Canada, Right To Play has established the "Promoting Life-skills In Aboriginal Youth (PLAY)" program. It started, in 2010, with two First Nations communities and by 2012, has increased to over 40 First Nation communities and urban Aboriginal organizations. The PLAY program is community-owned and is continuously supported by Right To Play. PLAY is experiential learning that engages children, youth and communities in a healthy and safe environment. It delivers measurable results and establishes confident leaders that create positive, supportive conditions for change.

Closer to home, students are enrolled in Right To Play programs at schools in Calgary including Tuscany, Springbank, The Edge, Colonel Irvine, Marion Carson and Father Lacombe. Finally, right in our backyard, students from schools in Cochrane, including St.Timothy, Holy Spirit, Elizabeth Barrett and Glenbow are learning with Right To Play.

As Right To Play says "When children play, the world win".

Quote of the Day

"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by his ability to climb a tree, he will spend his entire life believing he is stupid"

Albert Einstein

Fun and games at Elizabeth Barrett's Right To Play Day

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