Help us raise money

My name is Zak Taillefer, and I’m a 23-year-old student at Mount Royal University. I’m running the Calgary Half Marathon for a few reasons. I’ve been an amputee for just over three years, and this race is about proving to myself that I can still do the things I love, just like before and just like anyone else.

I’m also running for my baby niece, who was recently diagnosed with Williams Syndrome. I want to help raise awareness and support for people living with disabilities, which is why we chose to run for the Calgary Society for Persons with Disabilities. They do incredible work, and we hope you’ll support them with us. I’ll be running alongside my good buddy Sam Vincent, and we’re excited to push each other to be our best heading into race day.

Hey, I’m Sam Vincent (Zak’s buddy). I’m running to support Zak, his niece, and a cause that actually matters.

I knew Zak briefly before his amputation. To me, he was just a great guy in a math class who became a class buddy. A few months later, we ended up in the same program, and the rest is history. We’ve partied, boated, golfed, and lived a lot of life together, and I truly believe there’s nothing he can’t do. So here I am, a terrible long-distance runner, running for two great reasons and a great cause.