Banfield resident completes Mini Sun Run

Sunday, April 27^th was a great day for 74-year-old Emily Julian.

She completed the 2.5K Mini Sun Run with her son and daughter-in-law by her side.

“I had the time of my life,” says  Emily who is a resident  at VGH’s Banfield Pavilion . “I really enjoyed it…seeing all those people and all the children getting out. I’d love to do the five kilometre race next year.”

“At one point, my son came up to me and said, ‘Mom, slow down!’” she adds with a laugh.

Emily Julian with her ribbon after crossing the Sun Run finish line.

Having never done a race before, Emily, who is in a wheelchair, says the race was a pretty uplifting experience.

“It really built up my confidence,” she says. “Now I feel like I can do anything.”

Emily got the idea to enter the race while talking about it with a social worker at St. Paul’s Hospital during one of her three weekly dialysis visits.

“And then the next day, he came to me and said, ‘Em, I got you registered,” Emily says. “And another doctor sponsored you. I was really surprised.”

Even after crossing the finish line, her day continued to get better when she went to the Edgewater Casino after.

“I won $161,” she says. “It was just a lovely day.”