What is the Pain in the Canal Challenge?
Marty Pasternak (right) and Kevin Hays (left) at the finish of the first Pain in the Canal Challenge!
On August 15th, 2021 Marty Pasternak started a journey that is cemented in the memory of many. He began running in Albany, New York headed home for Buffalo. He had it set in his mind that this 361 mile journey would last 1 week and on the following Saturday he would push his cousin Kevin across the finish all while raising money for The Buffalo Colon Corps.
Kevin was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 27 and fought not only for his life, but for the lives of so many others. Kevin served on many boards and committees, volunteered and supported many organizations and did everything he could to end the stigma behind colorectal cancer being an "Old Man's Disease". He did all of this while fighting through years of pain, surgeries, treatments, and more AND raising a beautiful family. Kevin's dream was The Buffalo Colon Corps and saving lives regardless of the pain that he experienced.
Over the course of the next 7 days, Marty pushed his body farther than he ever had. Marty spent the first 2 and a half days running before an injury forced him to get on a bike for the first time in 20 years. Marty fought through injury, inexperience, torrential downpours, massive flooding, logistical miscues (he made a LOT of wrong turns) and of course the mental challenge of taking on such a large task without having the experience of being an ultra-runner or bi-athlete. The one thing that kept him going was the constant thought that Kevin had never quit regardless of the pain and challenges he faced.
Even though Kevin was unsure he would survive to the finish date, and Marty was unsure he would be able to physically make it across the state in time, On August 21st Marty was able to push Kevin in his wheel chair across a make-shift finish line at Canalside in Marty and Kevin's home town of Buffalo. Greeted by an overwhelming group of friends, family, and complete strangers that had heard about this challenge Marty and Kevin spent much of the last quarter mile crying, laughing, making a few inappropriate jokes and puzzled by the impact they had made that week.
At the finish Kevin stood out of his wheelchair and hugged Marty. Kevin began thanking Marty for what he just did and Marty responded "This is all because of you".
This was unfortunately one of the last major events in Kevins life as his fight with colorectal cancer came to an end that following October, but Kevin's legacy lives on. Today the Pain in the Canal Challenge is a yearly virtual event that is growing and having more in person events planned each year. All proceeds of this event go directly to Kevin's dream of the Buffalo Colon Corps. Kevin has handed the reins of this organization over to one of his best friends Tess Fraser. Marty continues to work with Tess regularly to raise funds so they Buffalo Colon Corps can get their message out to stop this preventable disease that has taken too many people from us.
Kevin was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 27 and fought not only for his life, but for the lives of so many others. Kevin served on many boards and committees, volunteered and supported many organizations and did everything he could to end the stigma behind colorectal cancer being an "Old Man's Disease". He did all of this while fighting through years of pain, surgeries, treatments, and more AND raising a beautiful family. Kevin's dream was The Buffalo Colon Corps and saving lives regardless of the pain that he experienced.
Over the course of the next 7 days, Marty pushed his body farther than he ever had. Marty spent the first 2 and a half days running before an injury forced him to get on a bike for the first time in 20 years. Marty fought through injury, inexperience, torrential downpours, massive flooding, logistical miscues (he made a LOT of wrong turns) and of course the mental challenge of taking on such a large task without having the experience of being an ultra-runner or bi-athlete. The one thing that kept him going was the constant thought that Kevin had never quit regardless of the pain and challenges he faced.
Even though Kevin was unsure he would survive to the finish date, and Marty was unsure he would be able to physically make it across the state in time, On August 21st Marty was able to push Kevin in his wheel chair across a make-shift finish line at Canalside in Marty and Kevin's home town of Buffalo. Greeted by an overwhelming group of friends, family, and complete strangers that had heard about this challenge Marty and Kevin spent much of the last quarter mile crying, laughing, making a few inappropriate jokes and puzzled by the impact they had made that week.
At the finish Kevin stood out of his wheelchair and hugged Marty. Kevin began thanking Marty for what he just did and Marty responded "This is all because of you".
This was unfortunately one of the last major events in Kevins life as his fight with colorectal cancer came to an end that following October, but Kevin's legacy lives on. Today the Pain in the Canal Challenge is a yearly virtual event that is growing and having more in person events planned each year. All proceeds of this event go directly to Kevin's dream of the Buffalo Colon Corps. Kevin has handed the reins of this organization over to one of his best friends Tess Fraser. Marty continues to work with Tess regularly to raise funds so they Buffalo Colon Corps can get their message out to stop this preventable disease that has taken too many people from us.
