WINNIPEG — One Winnipeg grandfather laced up for his first ever 10-kilometre race at the Manitoba Marathon to mark his 75th birthday.
“This is my first one. I walk a lot, exercise a lot, but this is my first marathon,” Jim Magnan said.
He says he wanted to push himself and continue staying fit. But, he admits there’s more to his story.
Months of training and just over a week of fundraising helped Jim collect just over $2,000 to go towards the Manitoba Marathon Foundation to help people with intellectual disabilities.
“The one closest to my heart is mood disorders because we’ve had some issues in our own immediate family with that and if it can help someone with that type of condition, then it’s going to be all worthwhile in the end,” Magnan said.
Magnan said he used to watch his parents walk miles every day while he was growing up and he wanted to do this race not only to celebrate his 75th birthday, but also to commemorate his parents.
He says he hopes to take part in the race year after year with his son and grandsons.
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