Danny Wolff: Running for The Children's

 

Danny Wolff doesn’t need to run far to find his inspiration: “When I’m running, I’m running for my children, Dylan and Riley.”

 

Eight-year old Dylan and Riley are identical twins who were diagnosed with Canavan Disease when they were five months old. Canavan is a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive and irreversible damage to nerve cells in the brain, stunting physical and intellectual development from infancy. Most affected individuals live only into childhood.

The thought of doing something concrete to help The Children’s help his two sons and others grew steadily in Danny Wolff’s mind. Though he was admittedly overweight at the time, Danny was ready the day his wife,Samarra, suggested he lace up his running shoes and hit the pavement on behalf of the Montreal Children’s Hospital at the annual Scotiabank Montreal Half Marathon. Danny raised over twenty thousand dollars his first time out. “Six years and fifty-five pounds later, we’re a success.”

 

The 21-kilometre run is no picnic, even when you train for it, as Danny does every year. “When you come around kilometre 18 and you’re really huffing and puffing, your ankles and knees ache, the wind’s blowing and it’s cold, you need something that keeps you going, that inspires you. It’s my children who do that.”

 

When Danny started running to raise money, he wanted to help The Children’s. There’s always a need for new medical equipment and, in recent years, for brick-and-mortar at the new Children’s Hospital. It was also important to Danny that there be funding for the little things that help kids at The Children’s cope. “We wanted to make sure they have books and video games that help patients not think of why they’re there.”

 

As Danny prepares for his sixth annual Scotiabank Montreal run, he and Samarra think of their boys and of the donors they know are with them every step of the way. “Our situation is hard, with our twins. It hurts. So having the community, having The Children’s and having all this support keeps us going day to day.”

 

Danny is adamant about thanking The Children’s for its work with his sons and with the sons and daughters of countless others. He also is thankful for what he sees as “this great honour of being an ambassador for The Children’s” at the Scotiabank run. “Who knows,” he adds, chuckling, “maybe this year, I’ll win!”

 

Maybe you already have, Danny.