In Celebration of Liz Hawley

Again this year, on the three-year anniversary of Mom passing away, I wanted to honour her by doing just two of the many things she instilled in me for as long as I remember. Her focus on health and taking care of her body, and giving so much of herself to help people.

Some of my earliest memories of mom were me going downstairs while she was doing step class videos, or on her bike or her daily ab routine. She always carved out time to break a sweat and frequently invited us to join - taunting that we couldn't keep up. It's this gift, both breaking a sweat and taunting, that she passed on to me, and is now being passed on to the next generation (Easton, Callie and even Addy frequently join me).

Mom was also the most selfless person I've ever known. Giving so much of her time, talent and treasure to those in need. I didn't understand its full extent until she passed - just how many people counted on her to help them, guide them, and support them in any way she could. She is the exact model of the type of human I aspire to be, and we were so fortunate to have her in our lives.

On July 29th, I will be completing the 4 x 4 x 24 challenge, which is running 4 miles (6.4 kms) every 4 hours for 24 hours. Starting at 4am on Friday, July 28th and ending sometime after midnight on July 29th (running 24 miles/38 kms total). The funds raised will be going to one of mom's favourite charities, Rising Angels. This charity provides awareness and restorative care for Ontario women affected by commercial sexual exploitation, allowing them to experience physical, mental, social and spiritual restoration in their lives.

This year, our donations will go TWICE as far, as Caddle is matching every dollar raised up to $5,000. Together we can make a big difference, and if you'd like to join me (in-person or virtually) on this run, it would be an honour to share this experience with you as we celebrate mom's life and legacy. You can donate here: https://gofund.me/1b5565d0.