Why Mike is running for Island kids this fall
In 2013, Mike Shaw was told he might never walk again.
After suffering a skiing injury at age 26, he spent nearly four months in hospital. The road to recovery was long and complicated, not just for Mike, but for his family.
“I saw how hard it was on my parents—emotionally and financially. They had to drop everything to travel down to the U.S. while I was in the ICU, then spend months going back and forth to Vancouver just to be there for me. It’s something I didn’t fully understand at the time, but looking back, it had a huge impact on them.”
Today, Mike isn’t just walking—he’s a long-distance runner. And this fall, he’ll take on the Royal Victoria Marathon.
Mike ran his first marathon in 2024, and at the time, it was about proving to himself that it was possible. This time, his motivation is different: to contribute to something bigger than himself. That’s why he’s fundraising for Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island.
It means a lot to Mike to be able to support families facing health challenges with their kids, because he knows what that journey looks like. And as he became a father himself last year, it deepened his perspective on what his own parents went through alongside him.
“Even though I was in my 20s at the time… as long as your parents are with you, you’re always their child.”
Running, for Mike, is “mental health in motion”. It’s a way to reflect, reset, and practice gratitude.
As he aptly puts it: “I don’t have to do this. I get to do this.”
Based in Victoria, Mike runs his own clinical counselling practice, Gratus Health, where he supports individuals recovering from significant injuries, as well as men and youth navigating mental health challenges. Shaped by his own experiences, his work focuses on the connection between emotional healing and physical recovery.
As he trains for race day in October, Mike is encouraging others to get involved. His advice for fellow runners who want to fundraise is simple: start with the people who already support you and share why it matters.
“It doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Just share the link to your fundraising page in your group chat with family or friends,” he suggests. “Tell them why you’re supporting your charity of choice. And how it fuels your motivation to keep going.”
For Mike, the true value of the marathon isn’t in crossing the finish line, but in the months of preparation leading up to it.
“The finish line feeling is short-lived. The real value is in the effort you put in every day.”
And this fall, every step Mike takes will help keep families close to their kids when they need them the most.
Join Mike and turn your race into something bigger.
