Find 52: Track and Field Teams

The key to life is running and reading. Why running? When you’re running, there’s a little person that talks to you and says, ​‘Oh I’m tired. My lung’s about to pop. I’m so hurt. I’m so tired. There’s no way I can possibly continue.’ You want to quit. If you learn how to defeat that person when you’re running you will learn how to not quit when things get hard in your life. Running! The first key to life.
WILL SMITH Actor The Key to Life (2005)

I run because it’s so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel like you can’t. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you’re capable of so much more than you thought.
ARTHUR BLANK Co-Founder Home Depot, owner of the NFL Atlanta Falcons

Athletes’ stories inspire us all.

Like young readers, you strive to reach higher ambitions. Your support is also one for the books. During Track & Field season, we’re inviting athletes and coaches to join our Find 52: Track and Field Teams campaign. We know school teams will, quite literally, go the distance and raise $1,600.00.

Our literacy work directly benefits over 80,000 students. In St. Lucia, Grenada, Montserrat, and Nevis, we’re rebuilding school libraries. And every year, we bring Canadian children’s book authors and illustrators to meet their fans at our annual Rainforest of Reading Festivals.

Words have enormous value. In fact, if 800 athletes, coaches and spectators each toss a Toonie into our Really Big Shoe at your track event, you’ll be helping us meet our financial target. In a world that is sometimes defeating, training your brain and imagining a new story may be the one essential tool for children in developing countries.

Thanks to the athletes who’ve participated in our Find 52 campaign:

Eric Gillis Canadian Olympian Men’s Marathon Rio 2016
Jake Holden Canadian Olympian Snowcross Sochi 2014
Verneta Lesforis St. Lucia Olympian 800m Sydney 2000
Zepherinus Joseph St. Lucia Olympian Men’s Marathon Athens 2004
Kurvin Wallace St. KItts & Nevis Olympian 200m Atlanta 1996

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In Words & Pictures

2018 Participants
Track and Field Team(s)/Event DATE & PLACE AMOUNT
GCVI Gaels Relays Track & Field May 8 at U of Guelph Alumni Stadium
École élémentaire catholique St-René Goupil June 13 at ESC Père René de Galinée, Cambridge
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Soufriere Primary School students with Richard Clewes and Jake Holden in January, 2016. (Sochi Winter Olympics 2014, Snowcross)
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Eric Gillis and daughter at John Galt PS 'Pass the Baton' in Guelph, 2017. (Rio Summer Olympics 2016, Men's Marathon)
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Eric Gillis with Richard Clewes at CCVI 'Pass the Baton' in Guelph, 2017. (Rio Summer Olympics 2016, Men's Marathon)
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Eric Gillis racing CCVI students at 'Pass the Baton' in Guelph 2017. (Rio Summer Olympics 2016, Men's Marathon)
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St. Kitts and Nevis Olympian, Kurvin Wallace runs with Richard, November 2015. (Atlanta Summer Olympics 1996, 200m)
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St. Lucia Olympians, Verneta Lesforis (right) 800m Sydney 2000 and Zepherinus Joseph (left) Men’s Marathon Athens 2004
Soufriere Primary School students with Richard Clewes and Jake Holden in January, 2016. (Sochi Winter Olympics 2014, Snowcross) image
Eric Gillis and daughter at John Galt PS 'Pass the Baton' in Guelph, 2017. (Rio Summer Olympics 2016, Men's Marathon) image
Eric Gillis with Richard Clewes at CCVI 'Pass the Baton' in Guelph, 2017. (Rio Summer Olympics 2016, Men's Marathon) image
Eric Gillis racing CCVI students at 'Pass the Baton' in Guelph 2017. (Rio Summer Olympics 2016, Men's Marathon) image
St. Kitts and Nevis Olympian, Kurvin Wallace runs with Richard, November 2015. (Atlanta Summer Olympics 1996, 200m) image
St. Lucia Olympians, Verneta Lesforis (right) 800m Sydney 2000 and Zepherinus Joseph (left) Men’s Marathon Athens 2004 image
2018

Find 52: Track and Field Teams

$0

raised of $1,600 goal

19

days to go

0

% raised
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Find 52: Sonya's Extra Mile
Finding the way for Fundraising
Olympian Jake Holden and Richard Clewes survey the route for Find 52 in January 2016. The duo were joined by St. Lucian Olympic athletes and members of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force.

A road is a song, a poem, a movie, an adventure. It's hope and optimism, and inquisitiveness.

A. A. GILL
The Angry Isle
Find 52 started in Grenada
52 miles gets you right around this small, beautiful island. Companions on the second day included: Philip Clift from Petite Anse Hotel, an enthusiastic young boy and one very fit dog named "Dodgy".

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.

ST. AUGUSTINE
Fundraising is an Uphill Battle
In January 2015, I ran 52 miles in Grenada. Let me dismiss athletic motives; it so happens 52 miles gets you all the way around the island. I did it for money – $40,000 – all of which went to OneWorld Schoolhouse. CTV National news ran the story on May 25, 2015 and so began Find 52.

All men should strive to learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why.

James Thurber
International Literacy Day 2016
Soufrière Primary ran a relay on September 8, 2016 to celebrate reading. The event was filmed as part of the "run-up" to our first Find 52 Thousand campaign in 2017. Over 1,000 students from grade 3-12 ran 1 mile segments right around St. Lucia.

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

Albert Einstein
(1879-1955)