Toronto Sikhs organising marathon to help children in need

Britain's Fauja Singh, believed to be the world's oldest marathoner, will be among those participating in the first ever marathon being organised by the Sikh community of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Canada May 19.

The event is being organised by the Guru Gobind Singh Children's Foundation (GGSCF) to raise funds for children in the developing world and promote "a healthy and active lifestyle", The Globe and Mail reported.

Founded by children and youth in 1999 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa and to honour the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, GGSCF organises "interesting, challenging, and enjoyable charity fundraising events with a focus on children helping children".

"Our major achievement is getting youth involved. We keep them engaged in different activities around the GTA," Sarpreet Khera, one of the five-member board of the GGSCF, was quoted as saying.

"We bring children on board to get involved to do positive things in the community, the community in which they live, thereby taking them away from other things like loitering, joining gangs, etc."

Since its inception, the foundation has raised over $800,000 to help children in need.

According to the report, Fauja Singh will be participating in the event only in a symbolic manner.

"Although the running parts are (now) not as long any more, I still run a little, but much more of my daily run has been replaced by a brisk walk," he said.

The marathon will be held from the Dixie Road Gurdwara in Missisauga in the western part of the GTA to the Gursikh Sabha Gurdwara in Scarborough.