When Stephen Sanderson gets dressed for next Sunday's BMO Vancouver Marathon, he won't just be lacing up a set of runners, rather he'll be outfitting himself from head to toe in full firefighting gear - air tank included.
He's taken on the challenge of traversing the 42.2-kilometre course weighed down by an additional 45 pounds, in an effort to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Canada (muscle.ca).
Proceeds will benefit support services, mobility and medical equipment, and research focused on finding a cure.
"Part of being a firefighter, you're supposed to be involved in the community and support your community," says the 28-year-old North Vancouver resident.
An aspiring firefighter, having completed his training last summer, Sanderson was further inspired to lend his support by his mother's career as an educator working with people with special needs.
Sanderson was introduced to Muscular Dystrophy Canada while undergoing his training at the Justice Institute of B.C. A representative gave a presentation about the work that they do and he felt compelled to take action.
The upcoming initiative follows one Sanderson led in September 2014, seeing himself and a group of fellow firefighter recruits ascend the Grouse Grind, also in their turnout gear. They raised approximately $7,500 for the organization.
Sanderson will be tackling the BMO Vancouver Marathon, his first, on Sunday, May 3 with the support of his brothers, Matt and Andrew, and friend Dylan. While they'll be running alongside him, he'll be the only one in turnout gear.
Unfortunately he hasn't been able to train very much in the equipment.
"It was kind of attracting too much attention. I would be running and people would be stopping me and asking me if there was a fire," he laughs. "So I put that away. I did a couple runs with it and felt great."
Instead, Sanderson has been boxing, and running with a 60-pound weighted vest.
"The way I look at it is yes, I will struggle for a few months training for this event but people with muscular dystrophy struggle every day. If you can do something for a good cause, why not," he says.
To make a donation in support of Sanderson's fundraising efforts, visit m.akaraisin.com/10059/gd/index.
For more information on the BMO Vancouver Marathon, visit bmovanmarathon.ca.
