From Hamilton to Honolulu

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Bryce_Heather3.jpg” caption=”Heather Bryce trains for the Dec. 11 Canadian Diabetes Association’s marathon in Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay”]Every step of the 42.1 kilometers Heather Bryce takes towards the finish line, is one step closer to putting a stop to diabetes – a disease that affects her father, grandmother and uncle, and if she's not careful, potentially herself.
A recent graduate of McMaster's life sciences program, Bryce will take part in the Canadian Diabetes Association's (CDA) marathon in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 11. She's currently raising $6,000 required to make the journey and she's about half way there.
The race is one of five the CDA puts on each year. McMaster executive assistant Jill Axisa participated in a race in Iceland in August, and others will be held throughout the year, including races in Rome and Amsterdam.
Bryce first heard about the race while participating in the Around the Bay race in Hamilton last spring. “Over the last year I have been really into running and so I joined the 5k Around the Bay race this past March and raised $50 for that, and so after that I began looking for a new goal,” says Bryce, who finished that race in third place. “I wanted to set a new goal for myself in terms of timing, but I also wanted something that not only would challenged me mentally and physically but I knew this was for a good cause.”
The CDA race is a little bigger scale than Around the Bay, not only in terms of distance, but also in terms of the money she is required to raise. By November, Bryce must raise $6,000, which will support diabetes research and education. To date, she has raised $4,000.
Bryce is overwhelmed by the support she already has received. Earlier this summer she was invited to participate in a talk show on Port Elgin's radio station, in the town she grew up. “A guy from Go Glass Accessories called in and donated $400 on the spot,” she said. “It support like that helps me feel good about this.”
Aside from fundraising, Bryce spends her time training. She runs four times a week, three times she runs seven km and the fourth she runs 10 km. She also kickboxes three times a week and this fall intends to find a personal trainer to help her with weight training.
She stresses the importance of training, a lesson she learned the hard way. She ran half a marathon about three years ago, after very little training. She was initially going to run only 5k, but decided to keep going after the 5k and run half a marathon. By challenging herself to run, she caused injuries to her knee and feet and was unable to run again for six months.
This didn't discourage her from running again. In fact, she encourages others to consider running a marathon. She believes anyone can do it. At 22, she is the youngest in her group to run the Honolulu marathon. “Most participants from Hamilton are over 40, and I'd say 75 per cent haven't run a marathon before,” she says. “I hope what I'm doing sends a message in a powerful way that you're taking non-athletes and getting them to run a marathon. It really just shows you that anyone can do it.”
Bryce, like many others who participate in the race, has been touched by diabetes. Her father, grandmother and uncle each have diabetes, making Bryce a high-risk candidate.
She knows the statistics about diabetes all too well. “There's no cure for it,” she says, “but it is so preventable if people take certain measures to be healthier and change their lifestyles. I have a grandmother, a father, and an uncle with type 1 diabetes, therefore I am at risk, but I am trying to set an example for others that by living a healthy lifestyle and educating myself, that preventative measures make all the difference.”
During the race, Bryce plans on wearing an inspiration t-shirt which will include the logos and faces of those who supported her. But it will be her grandmother, who will be her strongest inspiration. “My grandmother, who will be 82 this year, has changed her whole life. She is exercising, swimming and has generally improved her lifestyle.”
Bryce completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster this summer. She intends to move home to Port Elgin this fall and strive towards her ultimate career aspiration of working for a non-profit organization at the international level. “I hope to pursue a career in helping people in need,” she says. “I know that this will be one of many milestones in my search and adventure to find my right career path.”
To support Bryce, visit www.teamdiabetes.ca and click on “Pledge a participant”. In the fields provided, enter the year 2005, the race Honolulu and Heather Bryce.