Help Andrew raise money

On October 15th, I am running 5k in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in honour of my friend and "brother", Austin Sun. Earlier this year, Austin passed away after a three-year battle with cancer. 

Austin was, what I'd call, a "life" friend. We volunteered together at church for many years, always striking a balance between teenage chaos, fruitful service, and immense responsibility. We played volleyball and ultimate frisbee together in high school, making sure we kept track of who had more play time. In university, we moved on to joking about our engineering school experience, then distracting ourselves from academics by planning our next trip. There was never a dull moment.  

Despite the many challenges, Austin's heart and spirit shone through everything he did, and he gave the world everything that he was as a person. For his 22nd and 23rd birthday, Austin fundraised nearly $2000 for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. I don't understand much about the specifics of his treatments at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center, but I do know that his treatments gave us more time together - time that we made the most of. 

His 24th birthday would have been at the end of October, and I am grateful that we can dedicate it to the same cause and carry on his legacy. I definitely wouldn't call myself a runner or a fundraiser; if you know me well, you'd know that I prefer paying out-of-pocket to meet fundraising goals to avoid asking others. But this one's different - it's not about the money, but rather an opportunity for me to share Austin's story, and to know that he continues to inspire and challenge me.  

Austin, this one's for you.