I’m going the distance for CHEO – and this year, I’m going the full 42.2K.

Last year, I ran my first half marathon and set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for the CHEO Foundation. What happened next blew me away—we raised over $51,000. The support from friends, family, and the wider community was beyond anything I imagined. It was one of the most meaningful and humbling experiences of my life.

This year, on May 25th, I’ve decided to take things further. I’ll be running my first full marathon, and I’ve set a new fundraising goal of $20,000 in support of CHEO’s Cardiology Department.

This cause is deeply personal for our family. Our son, Arthur, was diagnosed with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis and Coarctation of the Aorta just five days after he was born. These are two serious congenital heart defects that affect how blood flows through and out of the heart. In his first 10 days of life Arthur was medically evacuated to SickKids for emergency heart surgery. He’s already undergone two balloon catheterization dilations procedures—and while he is doing incredibly well today, he will need lifelong cardiac care, and more interventions in the future.

Arthur is now 18 months old and doing incredibly well. He’s a joyful, curious, and busy little boy—hitting his milestones, smiling constantly, and bringing happiness to everyone he meets. He looks and acts like any healthy child his age, but the reality is that his heart needs to be carefully monitored. He continues to be followed closely by CHEO’s cardiology team and will be for the rest of his life.

Arthur is just one of many children living with congenital heart disease (CHD)—the most common birth defect, affecting 1 in every 100 babies. These kids often face complex challenges from the day they’re born and require ongoing, specialized care.

In 2024 alone, CHEO’s Cardiology Department supported over 21,881 patient visits, with a dedicated team of 21 staff. This world-class team provides everything from prenatal assessments to testing, procedures, interventions, and long-term follow-up for children with heart conditions. Whether it’s a tiny newborn or a six-foot-tall teenager—CHEO is equipped to care for them with expertise, compassion, and the most advanced tools available.

This fundraiser is our family’s way of saying thank you—not just for what CHEO has done for Arthur, but for what they do every day for children and families across Eastern Ontario.

Your donation will directly support CHEO’s Cardiology Department—helping fund state-of-the-art equipment, life-saving research, and new programs that support families navigating the reality of pediatric heart disease.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you donate, share, run, or cheer from the sidelines, your support means the world to us—and to the thousands of families who rely on CHEO.

With love,

Mike, Liv and Artie