PHOTO COURTESY KENDRA BLOOMBERG
Austin Sedgwick of Lethbridge started his run to raise funds for Autism Speaks Canada in Crowsnest Pass, B.C. and was in Medicine Hat on Tuesday before finishing at the Saskatchewan border later in the day.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Austin Sedgwick has found his way to raise money for charity, taking it one step at a time.
The 29-year-old from Lethbridge ran through the Hat on Tuesday during Day 4 of his charitable run starting in Crowsnest Pass, B.C. before finishing in Saskatchewan in the afternoon.
He ran across the province to raise money for Autism Speaks Canada and his run, focused on spreading awareness and providing a message that kindness matters, was dictated by donations received. He started a timer at 96 hours and could only start running once he had received a donation and stopped if they hadn’t received a new one within two hours.
He live-streamed in and out of his runs and at completion of his marathon and time of press, the run had raised $6,540 and Sedgwick was moved by the support.
“Without the support from my family and friends, my sister and my girlfriend here helping me, without them none of this would ever be possible,” Sedgwick said. “All the comments are really rewarding, it gets pretty emotional some years, hearing the feedback on certain things.”
He partnered his marathon with a pledge sheet for the Calgary marathon on May 28, the fourth year in a row he’s raised funds ahead of the marathon. In 2020 he raised money for the Alberta Cancer Foundation, in 2021 donations went to the Canadian Mental Health Association and 2022 was to raise funds for Spinal Cord Injuries of Alberta.
He selected Autism Speaks Canada through a poll on his Instagram, run.forthosewhocant, asking friends, family and followers who he should run across the province for and at the Calgary marathon. He doesn’t classify himself as a runner but says it’s the one way he knows how to help give back to people who need it, which he reminds himself of while running.
“I’ve had physical pain before and been able to push through it and it’s all about remembering what I’m doing it for,” Sedgwick said. “I’ve lost a few friends over the last couple of weeks here and sometimes in my mind, I think I should be raising money for the families who are mourning.
“I can push through any kind of physical pain but when you have that mental pain going back in your head, then then it’s a tough thing to get out of.”
Dealing with his mental health has become important to Sedgwick, which is why he raised money for CMHA in 2020. He’s not sure yet if he will do another fundraising run across Alberta in 2024, he didn’t even plan on doing a marathon at all past 2020. His focus is on the Calgary marathon and continuing the fundraising efforts.
Anyone interested in donating can do so before the end of the Calgary marathon on May 28 at the link found on Sedgwick’s Instagram.
