Rick Stiebel
B次元官网网址 Staff
When John Mcgoff competes in his first full marathon in October, a part of his mother will be by his side, matching him perfectly stride for stride.
Although the 39-year-old Victoria resident only started training seriously within the last year, Mcgoff initially got into running three years ago following a kidney transplant.
B次元官网网址淚 was taking all kinds of medications after the surgery,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧eople tend to put weight on after the surgery and there can be blood pressure issues as well, so I took up running to get into better shape. I knew if I didnB次元官网网址檛 look after myself I would lose the kidney. ItB次元官网网址檚 not easy to find a kidney, I owed it to myself and my Mom.B次元官网网址�
Mcgoff said he will always be eternally grateful to his mother, Maureen Mcgoff, for donating one of her kidneys. After travelling to Vancouver for the surgery in 2013, mother and son had to spend months there in recovery.
B次元官网网址淚 was quite concerned for my momB次元官网网址檚 health and didnB次元官网网址檛 want it to start deteriorating. She was 62 at the time, and the cutoff age for donors is generally 60,B次元官网网址� Mcgoff noted. B次元官网网址淔ortunately she takes excellent care of herself and is doing fantastic. Her health is as good with one kidney as it was with two. WeB次元官网网址檙e blessed with two kidneys and you can lead a perfectly healthy life with just one.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE: GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon
Mcgoff will be running to spread a message of hope when he takes part in the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon in support of the Kidney Foundation of Canada on Oct. 13. B次元官网网址淭he whole idea is to emphasize the importance of registering for organ donation,B次元官网网址� he stressed. B次元官网网址淚t takes an enormous burden on the health care system. Successful kidney transplants involve much less care and cost. People who have to stay on dialysis because they canB次元官网网址檛 find a donor have a greatly reduced quality of life. I canB次元官网网址檛 underline the importance of registering as an organ donor enough. People really do have it in them to save other peopleB次元官网网址檚 lives.B次元官网网址�
Mcgoff has been building toward the event by participating in a couple of Vancouver Island Race Series and half marathons, including the Oak Bay Marathon and 5K in April, where he posted a time of two hours and two minutes. He trains a minimum of three times a week for between 30 minutes and two hours.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 increasing to three hours during the summer and anywhere up to 35 kms,B次元官网网址� said the native of Stirling, Scotland. B次元官网网址淢y running group calls me the Flying Scot,B次元官网网址� he added with a self-deprecating chuckle in a brogue as thick as the fleece on Highland sheep. B次元官网网址淓veryone says you must have done great with the ladies with an accent like that when you arrived in Victoria. Yeah, for about 10 minutes. ItB次元官网网址檚 kind of like the nickname, the novelty wears off pretty quick.B次元官网网址�
If you would like to make a donation on McgoffB次元官网网址檚 behalf to the Kidney Foundation of Canada to fund important research, walk, run or jog over to .
rick.stiebel@goldstreamgazette.com
