Team King City Pharmacy at annual 10k run

May 28, 2013 · 0 Comments

Jawad, Haider, Frank, Marianna made up Team King City Pharmacy, who participated in the Sporting Life 10K Race in support of children’s cancers held in Toronto.
Submitted Photo

By Marianna Giallo
With one kilometre to go I wiped the sweat off my forehead, turned up the volume on my favorite Meat Loaf song and raced toward that glorious finish line.
The crowd cheered us on, pushing us forward reminding us of what we worked so hard for and we are not going to let them down.
Runners gathered on the brisk morning of May 12 for the annual Sporting Life 10K Race for Kids with Cancer.
Thousands lined the streets of Toronto’s downtown core. All ages and races with one goal in mind, to go the distance in Canada’s second largest run. This year’s event drew an incredible 27,000 runners, more than double the number from 2011.
Four of those people stood out from the crowd, they were four individuals who made a pact to go on this journey together for a healthier, fit and more fulfilling life.
We spend our days trying to encourage others to take responsibility of their own health and lifestyle so why not show them that we mean what we say and we can do it too, set the example by actions rather than words? We are team King City Pharmacy – Haider, Marianna, Frank, and Jawad.
So the journey began, with Aziza giving us a proper meal plan, drilling us on the importance of wholesome whole food nutrition for well being and optimum performance. Then the real work began, lacing up our running shoes and hitting the pavement. At first it was difficult, two minutes on the treadmill seemed like two hours. Our muscles ached and we kept telling ourselves we can’t do this. But as a team we shared each other’s sweat and tears and we pushed forward, beyond any point we could have ever imagined.
With each new kilometre we gained not only strength but encouragement in unity, confidence and a great sense of self worth. We can do this.
And with reliance on each other we knew we could accomplish great things, not only behind the counter at the pharmacy but in real life outside of work. We are a team on a mission to practice what we preach and show that our work does not end after quitting time.
I’m sure when each of us saw that beautiful finish line on the horizon we were proud beyond words. Not just for ourselves but for one another because none of us would have ever got there without each other at our backs telling us to go that extra mile.
This taught us that not only can we run a race but that we can take control of our lives and our health. With a little commitment and the right counselling (Aziza), we can turn our sluggish bodies into powerhouses, reduce blood pressure and heart rate, lower blood sugar levels, boost our immunity and feel great in the process.
Now it’s time to start planning our next big race, but maybe I’ll let my teammates recover a bit before I mention it!