A Walkathon for Visually Impaired People in Mississauga's Hazel 5Km Event

Getting ready at 105 Gibson Centre

We could not have asked for a better day like yesterday to do our 5Km walk.

It was a beautiful day with temperature at around 10 degrees C and a clear sky.

A physiotherapist volunteered her time to take care of participants

We met with our group- Joy Beyond Vision Community - at the Cultural Cafe shortly after 1:00p.m at the 105 Gibson Centre.





There were a few people already there picking up T- shirts, discussing directions and getting ready for the walk/ run.


Someone got injured a few weeks ago and a physiotherapist was there offering free service to help anyone who needed it before the event.

Everyone was getting excited!

Pastor Danny and his team organized and encouraged members of  the Joy Beyond Vision Community group to take part in the event.

There were ten visually impaired people taking part in the 5km walk!

Many volunteered offered their help to the VIP's ( Vision Impaired People)

For each runner, there were two volunteers with normal vision supporting them before and during the event.

Warming up for the  5km Walk!

Participants and volunteers were at the Gibson Centre chatting, encouraging each other and taking pictures.
There was an air of excitement at the Cultural Cafe. Everybody was excited about this event!

Going to Mississauga!

A school bus picked up everybody  including the runners, helpers and some family members who were there to cheer on their loved ones.

The school bus took us to the Carmen Carbassan Community Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, about half an hour drive from Toronto.

Shuttle buses taking the runners/ walkers to the starting point of their routes

We were dropped off at the community centre's parking lot, and boarded a shuttle bus taking us 

to the 5Km run starting point at Front St. and Lakeshore Drive in Mississauga.

People waiting and taking picture before the run

After about a 15 - 20 minutes' ride, we were at the 5K starting point.

Participants were of different ages and diverse background

There were a lot of people, young and old. Everyone was in a good mood, excited to get started.

VIPs warming up at the Mississauga site

Canada is a multi-cultural country and we pride ourselves of our diversity.

The participants in the Mississauga sports event reflected the Canadian spirit.

Participants from the Joy Beyond Vision Community and their volunteers in the Mississauga sports event

People from all different background, abilities, ethnic groups were here together for one purpose.














We were all there to participate in a sport event and raise fund for a good cause!


It was a lot of fun being with so many people and
waiting for the run/ walk to start.

Some people did a marathon while some ran/ walked a 10 Km route or did the 5km route.

A blind runner being guided by his/her helper

The event was an inclusive event as it was designed to include people with various ability levels.

People getting ready and doing their warm up exercises

Some warmed up by working on the rowing machines

With popular and inspiring music playing, runners/ walkers did warm up exercises to get themselves ready.


Some prepared themselves on the rowing machines set up on site.

After we sang O Canada, and right on the starting time. all the participants started their run/ walk!

The entire route was well marked 

The route was well marked out with clear big signs leading us towards the right direction.

We passed by beautiful scenery during our walk/ run event!

We passed by the Port Credit Habour, beautiful scenery and residential areas with beautiful homes fronting the lake!!!

\VIP's and their helpers running/ walking side by side

The vision impaired runners were doing very well, enjoying the event and were able to keep up with other participants.

It felt great as we saw the crowd lining the final stretch of the route near the finished line!

Reaching the finished line

As we were heading towards the finished line and unbeknownst to us,  our arrivals were captured on video by Sports Stat.

A food and water station at the finished area to refuel the participants

 After entering the finished area, each runner/ walker was given a aluminum foil blanket, water, cookies, bananas, pita rounds, and energy bars.

There were  a number of tents set up; some volunteers gave  out free food and souvenirs. But we were attracted to the tent with music and musicians performing.

One of the proud participants who finished the event!

It was quite a celebratory atmosphere!

Pastor Danny and Brian 

Participants were tired, but were jubilant as they had accomplished their goals and finished their routes.

I felt great as I saw the bright huge smiles from grin to grin on many of the faces from the Joy Beyond Vision Community group.

It was a great day for all who participated!

R.T.
Mississauga
Ontario

Picking up Our Running Kits for the Greater Mississauga Spring Marathon, 2016

We picked up our running kits a day prior to the Mississauga Marathon

Today was a pretty interesting day for us. It was our first experience with a city wide running event.


We were helping out with the Joy Beyond Vision Community charitable organization composed of vision impaired people who would be taking part in the Mississauga Marathon / running event on Saturday. April 30.


We met up with Pastor Philip and Clement and drove to an arena to pick up the running kit for all the runners the day before the run. My husband and I did part in the Terry Fox Run for a couple of years when our children were young.

Since we were not involved in the organization of the run, we knew very little about the workings behind the scenes of organizing a city wide fundraising marathon event.

I thought we would just park our car outside the arena, and went in to pick up the kits and then head home. It would not take too long, right?

Wrong!

We were in the arena for over an hour because there were a lot to see!

Before we could reach the area to pick up everything we needed for tomorrow's run, we had to walk through a maze of sponsors and vendors winding down the path leading to our destination.

We enjoyed the different samples of protein bars offered at the booths

A number of companies were there with  booths set up, enthusiastically promoting their products and giving out free brochures and samples. We had fun looking at all the displays, trying samples of different energy bars.

The behind the scene organization was awesome!  Everything was arranged in order and the flow and traffic was very smooth; everyone got through the process with little waiting time.

Friendly staff manning the merchants\ booths

These were the stations in sequence to help runners to pick up their running kit efficiently:

1.  Business and Vendors' Booths - They were set up at the entrance to the lower level of the arena.      Everyone entering the ares must go by these booths.

Participants pick up their Bib number from the main desk 

2.  Bib Number Pick Up Station - We picked up the forms for our group, double checked each name on our list with the Bib number and picked up the safety pins to attach the bib.

Runners' Bib numbers were scanned by machines set up by Sport Stats.

3.  Scanning Station - We scanned each one of the Bib with the runner's number on it on a scanner so that we would get a report about our run.

The T- shirts were laid out according to gender and size on the tables. 

4.  T-Shirts Pick Up Station - T shirts were neatly displayed on a row of long tables with size and categories clearly marked on the wall above the tables. Though we are not running the marathon tomorrow, this would be our first T shirt for our run

5. The Goodies Station - A goodie bag with free gifts and samples were handed out to each registered participants.

The whole experience was quite pleasant and efficient. The only problem we encountered was a couple of our runners name did not have registered number assigned to them.

Pastor Philip had to spend some time finding out the reason and locating their number so that they could be in the computer system.

After a few tries, the Greater Toronto Spring Marathon organizer was able to finally located the names and assigned each a number.  Mission accomplished! We were happy and look forward to the run tomorrow!!!

R.T.
Mississauga
Ontario

Celebrating Mom's 90th Birthday Party!

As medicine and science have advanced in the past few decades, more and more citizens of the modern era are able to enjoy a longer and healthier life span.

The giant birthday card we created for our mother's 90th birthday!

My mom is one such person living a long and healthy life. A few weeks ago, prior to my sister's 60th birthday celebration, we had a big family gathering and celebrated her big 90th birthday in Toronto.

J. flew in from Calgary for Grandma's birthday party

Our siblings started planning this big family bash more than six months ago. Party invitations were sent out in January.

Therefore, out of town family members and guests would have a lot of time to plan their travel to Toronto for the celebration.

E. flew in from the  west coast of the U.S.

Consequently, many of her grandchildren and their families were able to fly back from all over the North American continent and wished their grandmother happy birthday in person.

B. and his family flew in from Prince Edward Island

They flew from San Francisco, Florida, Vancouver, Calgary,  Ottawa, and Prince Edward Island on the day of the celebration.

M.. and family and  kids flew in from Florida

We certainly appreciated those grandchildren  such as Ben and Patrick with their wives and young children in tow flying in from long distance for grandma's birthday!

There were lots happening at the birthday dinner

Prior to the party, we created a power point with pictures capturing my mother's significant and happy moments in her life.

Entertaining the guests with songs

While this slide show was being play,  there were a lot of Kodak moments with my mother, her children, their families and dinner guests.

Many took part in the dinner program to celebrate Mom's milestone birthday 

Thanks to my sister, Rosie's meticulous planning, we had a full program for the celebratory dinner.
Many took part in the celebration!

There were a few highlights throughout the evening.

The Parade of Great Grandchildren was led by  Joanne, the No. 1 grandchild

My most favourite moment was the parade of the great grandchildren being ushered in by their parents.

The parade of kids was led by Joanne, Mom's first born son's first child, who led her children into the dining hall.

Some of Mom's great grandchildren

Each little great grandkid was wearing a red single Chinese character on their neck and marching in to the upbeat tune of Walt Disney's It's a Small World.



They marched to the front of the dining room, stood together and form a congratulatory message in Chinese for my mother.

My mom and her great grandchildren!

The kids, between two and ten years old, all looked very cute and adorable!

Everyone was excited, clapping, smiling and singing.

Later on, all the grown grandchildren  joined in, each holding a special message ( written in traditional Chinese way) for grandma. It was a memorable moment and one of the highlight of the evening!

Jordan performing the Lion dance at |Grandma's 90th birthday dinner

Another highlight was the Lion Dance by Jordan, one of the grandchildren who flew in from Vancouver for this special event.

M. assisting in her brother's Lion Dance 

Barely living in Vancouver for a few months, Jordan joined a Lion Dance Club and learned how to do some basics of a Lion Dance.

Mike , Jordan and Grandma

Jordan, along with his cousin, Micheal, performed a lion dance with all the necessary paraphernalia midway during the dinner.

A Lion Dance is a symbol of good luck and celebrations in the Chinese culture.

Everyone was excited, especially the birthday gal as the Lion Dancers winded their way through the dining room!

A congratulatory  message from PM

Another highlight of the evening was when Jo, the first grandchild presented Mom with a congratulatory message signed personally by Justin Trudeau, the prime minster of Canada!

Mom is a blessed person loved by her children and descendants!

It was a great celebration and a momentous event celebrating Mom's 90th birthday!

The only child in her family, my mom always wished she had a sibling or two.

However, God is very fair,  He gave my mother seven children!

J/ and M.  manning the reception desk

He has also blessed her with a large extended family with many wonderful grandchildren.

E. and J. flew in from the west coast for Grandma's birthday bash

Among her descendants, there are engineers, doctor, lawyer, school principal, teacher, human resources, hotel and sports managers, nursing supervisor, successful business owners, city planners, physiotherapist,  a Ph.D and many other professionals.

Mom thanking the guests

 Hannah, the mother of Samuel in the bible was childless and suffered at the beginning of her life.

Similarly, my mother was lonely when she was growing up as the only child and without a father.

Look how fortunate she is now!
At 90, she is healthy, mobile, independent and loved!

I praise God for His grace, love and mercy!

My mother is truly a blessed woman as she is loved, surrounded and looked after by so many of her descendants!

Happy 90th Birthday, Mom!

I heard on the radio that Queen Elizabeth II just celebrated her 90th birthday in Britain a few days ago.

Happy Birthday, Mom and Queen Elizabeth II!  May there be a few more happy returns to come!!!

God bless, and love you both!

R.T.
Toronto
p.s. Photo Credit - Jordan Lui & Susan Lui
Thank you for many of the pictures sent to me by Jordan and Susan Lui