Lee Running the City Bay for HeartKids

The Stirling father of three, 51, has entered the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run an impressive 33 times and cites his son’s heart condition, and other children with heart disease, as his ultimate inspiration. “If you are fit and healthy you’ve got to appreciate that because there are some people that are unable to do the full exercise,’‘ he said. His son Glynn, 19, has undergone open heart surgery three times since he was born and is currently recovering from a recent 7-hour operation.
As the board director of HeatKids Australia, Mr Morgan will join 20 to 50 employees, families and supporters at this year’s event. By entering a large team for the September 21 fun run, Mr Morgan hopes to raise awareness about childhood heart disease, a condition that is considered the greatest killer of children under five in Australia. Funds raised from their run will assist the support for families of Heart Children who are often unable or find it difficult to run themselves. “What we’re doing as a team is we’re running for kids who can’t run,’‘ he said. However, the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run wasn’t always all about the kids for Mr Morgan, who has raced in every event since 1974 expect one. “I was pretty competitive in the early days,’‘ he said. “I used to take it super seriously and over the years I’ve just kept it up for myself and for the kids.’‘
His fastest time was 41.01minutes in 1986 when he finished 38th, followed by more than 10,000 other runners. Last year he made his best time in 10 years, which he says is thanks to morning routine. “The only way to keep fit is to have exercise every day,’‘ he said. ``I’ve only missed eight mornings so far this year.’‘ And with no plans to end his Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run commitment, Mr Morgan said he will only give up ``when my knees give out on me’‘.
Race director Joe Stevens praised the Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run for promoting the benefits of health and fitness. “Our aims are, of course, to encourage people to get out there for several reasons,’‘ he said. “One to improve health and fitness and to help establish a pattern of physical exercise with the City-Bay becoming the ultimate goal.’‘
The Sunday Mail City-Bay Fun Run registrations were launched last week with a record number of feet heading in the right direction. “We’re looking for a record year this year, we had 23,123 entries last year and we want to pass the record for participants,’‘ Mr Stevens said. So far entries have exceeded last year’s number with substantial numbers already entered in the first week.
So why don’t you join them – the entry form is on Page 62 or you can find it by logging on to adelaidenow.com.au
LEE Morgan might be a bit slower on the track these days but his motivation continues to out-run his fellow participants.