Running in paradise

Sarah Foley after running the half marathon.

Dal dentistry student Sarah Foley recently returned from Australia after running in the Gold Coast Airport Half Marathon last month.

The run takes place in Surfer’s Paradise, and includes stretches alongside the Pacific Ocean surf beaches and broadwater. It’s known as Australia’s fastest and flattest marathon course. Ms. Foley was one of 7,500 entrants in the half marathon and finished in two hours, three minutes.

Ms. Foley participated as a volunteer with the Canadian Joints in Motion team, raising $10,000 on her own and $69,000 for the whole team. The funds raised by the Joints in Motion program go directly to The Arthritis Society and support the society's research and education programs and benefit many of the 4.5 million Canadians living with arthritis.

“This experience was quite a challenge, but I got a lot of help and support from my family, friends and classmates,” writes Ms. Foley, a student in her third year. “To reach the $10,000 goal and run the half marathon in Australia was an amazing accomplishment for me and one that I will be proud of for a long time.”