A Canadian runner finds meaning on Great Wall

Editor's note: China Daily presents the series Friends Afar to tell the stories of people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. Through the vivid narration of the people in the stories, readers can get a better understanding of a country that is boosting openness.

For Canadian runner Alayne Crawford, running along China's Great Wall was more than a test of endurance. It was also a way to honor her father and aunt, both of whom died from lung disease, while raising money for the Canadian Lung Association.

On Sept 27, Crawford took part in the 23-kilometer Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race in Hebei province, with more than 1,600 meters of elevation gain.

The event was part of her ongoing fundraising efforts, which have brought together her family and friends in support of lung health.

"The biggest challenge was how relentlessly vertical the course was," Crawford told China Daily. Much of the race involved climbing or descending the surrounding mountains, with very little flat terrain.

Running on the Wall itself, however, offered an experience unlike any other.

"You had to watch your footing carefully because the surface was uneven, some steps were enormous, and there were steep or narrow sections where walking was the only sensible option.

"But on the wider, open stretches, there were moments when I felt as though I was flying. To be moving through that landscape, on the Great Wall, was something I'll never forget," she said.

Crawford's connection with running goes back to her father, who was a cross-country runner in high school and university and remained committed to an active lifestyle throughout his life.

Her fundraising efforts began about two months before her father's death.

"I felt woefully unequipped to do much beyond love him, and running offered a way to put my hobby to some practical use," she said. "Fundraising gave me something tangible to do with that feeling," she said.

Her first marathon was a self-organized virtual run along Ottawa's trail network. The effort introduced her to the Canadian Lung Association, and she later joined its board. She now serves as vice-chair.

For the Great Wall race, Crawford's family pledged to match donations up to C$5,000 ($3,570). Together with contributions from family and friends, they were on track to raise more than C$10,000 for the association.

Crawford and her family moved to Beijing for work, and running on the Great Wall had been on her wish list since arriving in China.

"I've always loved running, particularly events that offer an unusual experience or a chance to explore somewhere new," she said.

Beyond running, living in Beijing has given her family an opportunity to experience China beyond what a short visit could offer.

"Living in China has been an incredible experience for our family," she said.

"Living here has reinforced my sense of how much connects us as people," Crawford said. "So many of the everyday interactions we have are reminders of that shared humanity."