Image Credit: SUBMITTED/GoFundMe
December 05, 2020 - 12:05 PM
The Merritt man has laced up his shoes for another 100-mile race, once again in the name of charity.
Darius Sam gained national media attention when he raised $90,000 for the Nicola Valley Food Bank, all while running 160 km (100 miles) from Nicola Lake along Highway 8 to Highway 1. He collapsed near the end of the race, and after a brief stint in the hospital, managed to complete it.
READ MORE: Darius Sam runs 160 km and raises more than $90,000 for Merritt food bank
Since he said he didn’t technically finish, he’s doing it again and this time he plans to complete the run all in one go while raising awareness for mental health.
“I’m going on another endeavour, another 100-mile run, the same route that I did last time, we are doing it again Dec. 5,” he said.
Sam now has a GoFundMe set up with a $50,000 goal for the Nicola Valley Community Human Services Association, and he’s hoping to also raise awareness of addictions to reduce the stigma associated with this mental health.
“It hits close to home for me. I’ve lost close family members due to addiction. I have close family that are battling with addiction whether that be hard alcohol and (substance abuse) and I’m sure it hits close for home for a lot of people,” Sam said.
He has his team behind him, family and friends, who are cheering him on, but his race will be solo once again.
He’s been taking training seriously compared to the last time and has been training and eating healthy foods in preparation for the event, he said.
“The reason why I’m doing it this time is because I didn’t finish last time. I only ran around 89 miles,” Sam said. “I feel like it’s something I have to do, to confront.”
His biggest completion is himself, he said.
“It bothers me that I didn’t finish (the run). The desire to go back and confront it and face it is to prove to myself I can do these things and accomplish great things and if I can push myself to this extent, who's to say I can’t inspire others to find what they’re capable of?”
Find his GoFundMe online.
- This story was originally published Nov. 23.
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