Michael Sanker Cycles for Arthritis
“I travel not only for the adventure, but to learn about people and how they really live.” -Michael Sanker
Recently, I spoke with Michael Sanker about his upcoming trip to Portugal and his quest to raise funds for arthritis research. Michael is a member of the Joints In Motion Training Team for the Algarve Coast multi-day cycling event that will be held in October 2013. He has committed to raise $8,600 for The Arthritis Society – funds that will be used for critical arthritis research, programs and advocacy for the nearly four and a half million Canadians living with arthritis. Michael is one of those Canadians. Although he has arthritis in his hands, knees and right shoulder, he is most often found on a tennis court or hiking up a mountain. He has not allowed the disease to interfere with his ability to enjoy a high quality of life with his wife, Lisa, and their five children.
He was born in Trinidad into a large family with 11 children. Living in the Caribbean gave him a deep appreciation of the outdoors and adventure. As a young person, he decided to pursue a pilot’s license because of his love of travel, and obtained the license at the age of 24. He was certified as a general accountant in 1992. His love of hiking has taken him to Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu, Mount Robson, and the Annapurna Region of Nepal. Michael has also hiked the Chilkoot Trail, Grand Canyon, and the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island.
To prepare for the multi-day cycling event, he will complete a 10 to 20 week personalized training program to ensure he is prepared to complete the ride. Throughout the training program, a variety of topics will be discussed in detail such as injury prevention, nutrition for endurance athletes, proper footwear, and successful fundraising strategies. This is not his first cycling event, Michael participated in the 2010 Ride to Conquer Cancer from Vancouver to Seattle.
Did you know?
- Joints In Motion team members have raised more than $33 million.
- Since 1999, more than 5,500 Joints In Motion team members have cycled, run, and trekked.
- Joints In Motion has been to China, Dublin, Honolulu, Machu Picchu, and the Cayman Islands.
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