Endurance athlete Martin Parnell believes every child should have the right to play.
Two years ago, the Cochrane ultra marathoner did his part to make this a reality by running 250 marathons and raising $320,000 for Right to Play, an international charity that uses sport and play to empower children.
In 2010, he ran with 12,000 children in 60 schools in the Calgary/Cochrane area as part of the quest.
He ran around soccer and football fields to show the students they could make a difference.
Students dug deep in their pockets and handed over their loonies and toonies.
“They really get it,” said Parnell, a Right to Play ambassador.
“They can really understand kids not really having a lot of stuff.”
Parnell’s goal was to raise $250,000 and he raised $320,000.
He shared some of his experiences on the road and information about the Right to Play organization at École Mountview on Tuesday.
Parnell said he was inspired to get involved with the charity after a cycling trip in Africa in 2005 where he saw how sport could make a difference.
In 2011, he visited some of the schools in Benin, West Africa, where some of his fundraising dollars went.
“I think the programs are as applicable in this school today as they are in Benin, where I visited last year,” said Parnell. “Using play as a way to learn is fundamental. I don’t really care where the kids are. It’s a great way of learning.”
Parnell said the great thing about the organization is the training on the ground, including for teachers and community leaders to deliver the program.
He also spoke about how the program is being used in First Nations communities in Ontario.
In Canada, the program is being used in 5,000 schools.
He says the message is simple.
“Get fit, get some exercise,” said Parnell. “Do the stuff you love but also you can help others. You can make a difference. I don’t care what it’s for. All these kids can make a difference. Just pick something and do it.”
Parnell has a book coming out in September through Rocky Mountain Books on his marathon quest. In the meantime, he is in the midst of another fundraising quest — 10 quests in five years to raise $1 million to help 20,000 children through Right to Play. Parnell completed his marathon quest in 2010 and a netball quest with a group for the longest netball game in 2011.
“I’m doing sports that kids can do either in the school or in the community,” said Parnell. “The one that is coming up next in a month is indoor lacrosse. There has never been a record set. So we have to play 24 hours of indoor lacrosse to set a Guinness World Record to fundraise for Right to Play.”
For more information on Right to Play, visit www.righttoplay.ca.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com