Hey guys welcome back and welcome to the first-time listeners, my names Steven Langenhuizen and I am the host of the Pacing and Racing Podcast – and on this podcast we are working alongside the Toronto Triathlon Festival to share another amazing episode in the Life Well Lived Podcast Series Presented By Raymond James.

Today we are joined by Robert McDonald who is the founder of Team I Will and Julia Glynn; a member of Team I Will and they both bring forward an incredible story of motivation, grit, and determination.

Robert was vacationing in Mexico back in 2012 when he lost footing and fell 31ft off his 3rdfloor balcony; leaving him with with nine broken vertebrae, a dislocated spine, 11 broken ribs, a broken scapula, a punctured lung, a lacerated kidney, and no sensation below his waist. Doctors gave Robert a 5% chance of ever walking again. Two years later, he completed a half marathon and three years later he completed his first full marathon.

Out of hope to inspire and help others he founded Team “I Will”, which is a community of people who have come together to break barriers and help support one another through sport.

Not only does Team “I Will” support the surrounding community through inspiration, it also raises money for the Toronto Rehab Foundation, the largest rehabilitation hospital in the world to help those who need love and support through their recovery.

Team “I Will” started with one person and one tragedy and has since evolved into a team of over 900 members strong. In 2019 they had over 30 triathletes competing at the Toronto Triathlon Festival, and aim to have more at the next TTF race.

Team I Will member Julia Glynn joins us as well to make this story full circle – to hear Robert talk about his vision and then to hear Julia’s story and how this team has made an impact for her is incredible – because now Julia is out there amplifying Roberts Vision and supporting a cause close to her heart; all while doing what she loves, and that is triathlon.

Now Julia was at the Toronto Triathlon Festival Presented By Raymond James in 2019 so we also get to hear her experiences around this event and what inspires her to keep coming back year after year.

Now, let’s hear their stories..

Team I Will

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