02-05-2025
Letters to The Vancouver Sun: We mourn the lives lost, hold close those who were injured or affected
On April 26, our community was shaken by a terrible act of violence during what should have been a joyful celebration of Lapu Lapu Day. This senseless tragedy has torn the fabric of our world, but it also reminds us of the strength and resilience we share.
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To the family and friends of those lost or injured: You are not alone. We mourn the lives lost, hold close those who were injured or affected and carry their memory forward with compassion and courage. In the silence that follows this horror, may peace and healing reach all who grieve in the shadow of this dark moment.
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Last summer I crossed the finish line of the San Francisco double marathon as the first-place female. It felt like the biggest day in my running journey and the first thing I could think was, 'I wish I could call my dad.'
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Over the years, running has morphed for me from a fun activity I shared with my father, to a serious pursuit of Olympic trials, and now to the world of ultra-running.
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But the first and best memories I have of the sport are jogging with my dad at The Vancouver Sun Run year-after-year.
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The Sun Run for some is about competition, but for many of the tens-of-thousands of participants it's about family traditions, personal goals reached or special memories shared with friends.
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Each year around this time feels nostalgic to me and gives me happy memories, as I now live in California and can't make it out for the event. This year, in the business of life, I almost forgot it was coming until a friend told me she was going to be attending on April 27.
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I didn't have the happy feeling I usually did, just a deep sense of loss, as my dad has since passed. Then I was filled with appreciation for The Sun Run — for its huge community, for all of the music and spectators, for my father taking me out to the event year-after-year and the time we spent running, walking, laughing, cheering and hobbling around B.C. Place eating bananas and waiting way too long in lines for free samples.
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Running has turned into competition for me, but it's important to remember that running means all kinds of things to all kinds of people, none of them more significant or better than the other.
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I'm thankful to move back to the Fraser Valley in the summer and create new Sun Run traditions with my own family. And grateful for the beauty, the chaos and the fun that it represents. To all who attended, whether you were kicking butt or just having a good laugh, I wish you memories and a lifetime of love and gratitude.
