CBC National- London Marathon/Niamh’s Next Step
Sunday April 22nd, 2012
Feature on Sunday’s CBC National- Wonderful job by Adrienne, Erin, and the rest of the crew! CBC National- Josh Cassidy London Marathon/Niamh\’s Next Step One minor teleprompter error at the start, I did win the Virgin London Marathon in 2010 
Visiting Niamh in the hospital- www.niamhsnextstep.com
The motivation for my training for the last two months now has been for one little girl… Niamh (pronounced Neeve) Curry. I decided I would brand up with her charity, Niamh’s Next Step, instead of finding a sponsor for the London Marathon, and to race for something that REALLY matters. This little girl’s life.
Wednesday I heard she has been under the weather, back in the hospital and wouldnt be making it to the London Marathon with her family. I was heartbroken for the poor little thing.. a blood infection of some sort it sounds like.. We were supposed to meet for the first time Saturday, and I had arranged for her and her family to be at the finish of the Marathon. It has been my motivation to finish the London Marathon first, branded with Niamh’s Next Step charity fund, to get her as much publicity as possible.. any opportunity to scoop her up and tell the world that this little girl needs our help.
Speaking with Niamh's mom, Sam, while delightful little Hannah plays in the background
My family likes to think a miracle saved me. I believe there are such things as miracles.. but there is also such thing as science. Niamh CAN get better if we all chip in and get her the funds to go to the US for the $450,000 treatment in Philadelphia.. which she is no longer offered in the UK.
After hearing that she wasn’t going to make it to the Marathon, I went straight from training Friday with my promoter David Burdus to Oxford to see her in hospital. When we arrived she had just gotten out of a minor surgery, and wasn’t her usual self. The poor little thing was sleeping most of the time, on antibiotics, and feeling pretty crummy.
- As David said, you can tell how many times Hannah has smiled for pictures now.. a natural! Chris and Sam have been going non stop, losing proper sleep for over a year now, and show ZERO signs of slowing down… amazing.
Her parents, Chris and Sam, are wonderful and amazing, as is her big sister, Hannah, who is an absolute delight! Chris and Sam filled me in on the whole situation with Niamh- how sick she has been, but what a little positive fighter Niamh is. I told her parents how she will be fine, and how this will make her a stronger person, as she is learning how to overcome obstacles in the earliest stages of her life. She will be able to get through anything after this, and at 5 years old I can tell she is already going to be an amazing person.
I could tell immediately from the first pictures I ever saw of her, the beautiful little old soul in there. A beautiful little cheerful angel. This little girl needs to live. And will. And we are going to get her what she needs so she can get better as soon as possible.
Please text CURE50 ?5 ?10 or?15 to 70070, or go to www.niamhsnextstep.com or follow @NiamhsNextStep via twitter to see how you can help!
WIN! at 2012 Boston Marathon, and recording World’s fastest time
I have to compile and update all of this, with links pictures and videos.. but for now, everything has been posted on my facebook fanpage- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Josh-Cassidy/139212742665
Motivation for London Marathon- Niamh’s Next Step
I’ve been having a hard time recently finding motivation for training.. not sure what it is, feeling like it has to do alot with the many frustrations I had been dealing with over the last few months. But I think I’ve found it. Racing has been about bettering myself, and of course winning. I love competition, I love improving, and my drive has always been to be the best at whatever I do. I also always was motivated by having a platform through success in order to make a difference. I’ve finally found something that I really hope I can make a difference. Little 5 year old Niamh Curry (pronounced Neeve) residing in the UK has Neuroblastoma cancer… the same type of cancer I was born with. Her parents had contacted me via twitter, telling me about their little girl, and the hope it gave to see someone make it through and doing what I’ve done. I’m very grateful I am here today, and I ‘ve always just handled every obstacle, constantly focussing on “the next big thing”. But this definitely made me appreciate what I have, and also recognize the battle Niamh is battling with her parents right now. I’ve arranged to meet Niamh while I am in the UK for the Virgin London Marathon. I’m glad that I can be an inspiration and a role model, but I want to REALLY make a difference and try to help Niamh raise the funds for her treatments. Her family is trying to raise nearly 450,000 GBP in order to get her to Philadelphia for treatment. Please see www.niamhsnextstep.com for her story and how you can help. So I will be racing with “Niamh’s Next Step” on my racing top, along with the text CURE50 to 70070 to help donate to Niamh. Trying to get Niamh some good seats at the finish line, and hoping to do well for her, and use that platform to get little Niamh’s story out there. With everything that has gone on, I’m a little behind than normal in training, but I have found the motivation to really up my game for the next four weeks. Setbacks are behind, and where there is a will there is always a way. I have definitely found the will again.
Please see www.niamhsnextstep.com for her story and how you can help.
Featured entry in CAN FUND book, “EXCELLENCE- The Ripple Effect”
Josh Cassidy features in e-book ‘EXCELLENCE:The Ripple Effect’
News 17th July 2011
Josh Cassidy, features in a new ebook “EXCELLENCE: The Ripple Effect”, along with 35 other Canadian Olympians/Paralympians published by the CAN Fund - The Canadian Athletes Now Fund, is a not-for-profit devoted solely to raising funds and awareness for Canada’s athletes
There are some pretty cool short stories in the book written by athletes on their way to the London 2012 Games. The stories of Courage, Believing in Yourself, Success From Failure, Excellence and Representing Canada will encourage and enlighten you. Some will make you laugh and some will make you cry, all the while reminding us that the possibility within each of us runs deep.
Josh’s story is entitled ‘Obstacles are Made to be Broken’ and features a headshot photograph and his autograph.
Josh is a two times previous recipient of a $6,000 award from the CAN Fund. His inclusion in the e-book comes hot on the heels of his triple gold performance in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m at the Calgary Track and Field Championships in June.
The link for the ebook is http://www.canadianathletesnow?.ca/boutique/can-fund-athlete-?ebook.html
Sales from the book go straight into the hands of Canadian elite athletes to support their training, coaching, nutrition and living expenses in preparation for international competition.
Win at Rolling Rampage 10k on Parliament Hill
PRESS RELEASE – CASSIDY RAMPAGES TO VICTORY
April 14th, 2011-
t be credited to Phillipa Maitland Photography - pmaitland@live.ca | Facebook | Website | Blog | 613.219.1264
Paralympian Josh Cassidy claimed outright victory for Canada yesterday in the 6th annual Rolling Rampage 10K wheelchair race, Parliament Hill, Ottawa.
The historic historical and beautiful backdrop of Cassidy’s birth city inspired him on to beat the cold, the wind and a strong international field, leading from start to finish in the 18.5 lap circuit.
The Parliament Hill course is a simple loop, but potentially dangerous – athletes hit nearly 40kms an hour at the bottom of the short sprint downhill with a scary 90 degree bend. Cassidy took the first lap hard and strong, to be sure to hit this risky corner first. He then maintained an impressive high pace into the headwind and on the section up the bank to the top of the hill allowing him to keep a 30 second gap ahead of the field.
Said Cassidy, “It was very tough out there and just a lactic burner. A few athletes held on for the first little bit, dropping back and chasing until eventually it was clear that no one would be catching me in the final laps.”
Even the Australian champion Kurt Fearnley, Gold medalist in the Marathon Beijing 2008 and five times New York Marathon winner couldn’t reel him in. Cassidy said “After pushing with Kurt the last few days, I know he is very strong and was the biggest threat today. In all honesty I imagined it being a sprint finish between him and I, with him coming out on top.” Many others also expected a close sprint finish with the Australian Paralympic and World champion adding the Rolling Rampage title to his long list of wins, but on the day, Cassidy had a different outcome in mind.
“To do a 10km race from the front, start to finish, is a feat I am proud of. It definitely wasn’t the plan, but I just fought through the lactic and kept going. I believe Kurt was about half a minute back, which is a very good gap.” The Frenchman Denis Lemeunier finished in third place.
Said Cassidy, “So it’s very cool to come here to the place I was born and show what I’ve accomplished. The crowd was great, a few schools were there and the energy was awesome. It was a surprise to have so many people cheering me on by name.”
In the women’s race Diane Roy and Keira Frie gave Canada first and second place with Jessica Galli of the USA placing third.
Multiple Canadian record holder Cassidy defends his London Marathon title on 17th April. “I am very happy about today. A great indication of where I am at physically so I am excited and ready for London. I just hope everything goes as planned on race day. No matter what, it will be a hard fought race, and I will not give up the title easily…”
Josh paid special thanks to The Inter Pipeline Fund, his sponsor for this event and the London Marathon. “My training, equipment and travel is very expensive and Inter Pipeline’s support is essential to helping me on my road to the London 2012 Paralympic Games”.
Rolling rampage on the Hill is a venture of the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP). The Honorable Vim Kochhar, Senator and board member of the CFPPDP, said “The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons has dedicated itself to promoting the vast, unheralded wealth of talent and ability in Canada’s disability community. Sports and Canada’s Paralympians, in particular, have always been a central focus of that campaign because we believe in the power of sport to heal and inspire. In recognizing outstanding athletic achievement Foundation projects like the Terry Fox Hall of Fame, the Great Valentines Gala and the WhyNot Marathon have served notice to the world that people with disabilities are every bit as gifted and accomplished as their able-bodied peers. The Rolling Rampage will connect these athletes with the enthusiastic audience that they deserve.” See http://www.amiando.com/rollingrampage.html
Cassidy added, “ It was great to be a part of high profile race that puts out such a positive profile of disabled people. We really need events like this because they show the public, the media and sponsors what we can do. Rolling Rampage is good for sport and its good for Canadian disabled people, Well done to Senator Vim Kochhar and the CFPDP team!”
The CANADIAN FOUNDATION FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS was established in 1985 to assist people with physical disabilities to live fuller lives.
Interpipeline Sponsorship
Very happy to announce that The Inter Pipeline Fund have become my proud sponsors! They have been quite enthused as I am, and I am very grateful and excited for this relationship!
I will be wearing their brand for the Rolling Rampage 10k on Parliament Hill, the Virgin London Marathon to defend my title, as well as the Canadian National Championships in the summer.
http://www.interpipelinefund.com/
School visiting today! (With a very nice gift)
During a visit to Post’s Corners school in Oakville today, Gr. 8 student Colin Cameron put together a really cool video intro before I spoke to the students. I was very surprised and totally not expecting it! They gave me a copy as a gift after.. Thank you very much!
CLICK HERE TO SEE:
2011 IPC World Championships- Christchurch, New Zealand
NEWS RELEASE FEB 5th 2011
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND – JANUARY 24: Josh Cassidy of Canada competes in the Men’s 5000m T54 heat during day three of the IPC Athletics Championships at QE II Park on January 24, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images) http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/108281217/Getty-Images-Sport
Multiple Canadian record holder, Josh Cassidy is on a high following his best ever world competition at last week’s IPC Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand. He finished 4th in the 10000m and 4th in the 5000m – a huge step up from the last world championships in 2006, where he didn’t make top 10.
On the track, a confident and strong Cassidy lead from the from the front, breaking up the pack with regular power surges, hitting a personal best top end speed and breaking an existing Championship record in the 5000m.
Triple Gold medallist at Christchurch, Britain’s David Weir says Cassidy is the only guy who panicked him in the 5000m final. Said Weir, “Josh is strong, able to sustain a high top end speed which means I have to work really hard to chase him down when he breaks”.
Cassidy’s build up in performance appears to be perfectly pitched at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. On top of his improved top end during the race, if he can pull off an increase in his finishing speed, then podium placings and medals must surely just be a matter of time.
In the 10000m, the rain came down which is a big challenge for racers, dealing with grip in the wet. Off the gun, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug, Japan’s Kota Hokinoue, and Cassidy broke away immediately, with the Thai, Prawat Wahouram, catching up shortly thereafter. Each took a turn attacking before settling in for the final sprint. Frustratingly, Josh slipped his grip in the final 200m finishing 4th, one second short of third, one and a half seconds short off first.
In his 5000m, Cassidy had a blistering semi-final, kicking on the final lap, then easing to bump fists in congratulations with Marcel Hug of Switzerland as they coasted across the finish line, setting a Championships record. In the final, Cassidy got the pace going and everyone into single file. Japan’s Masazumi Soejima took a surprising few laps from the front, with Dave Weir and Marcel Hug sitting comfortably at the back the entire race. Cassidy attacked, got a good 50m, forcing Dave and Marcel to sprint hard to catch up. Cassidy recovered easily from his attack and fell in behind Weir and Hug as they dropped back down the pack – they would be the fastest in the last lap. The three attacked on the final lap, coming from the back with Cassidy finished 4th.
Said Cassidy, “During the race I maxed the highest speed I have ever hit on the track, at 36.2 km/h. I felt like I was the strongest one of the group, I just didn’t have the highest speed at the end. I played everything as perfectly as I could have I think.” Canadian coach, Ueli Albert, told Cassidy after the race: “that was incredible to watch, it was like you were creating art out there”.
WINNER DAVID WEIR ON THE 5000m FINAL, AND ON CASSIDY’S PERFORMANCE:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/9381994.stm
Huge Marathon Controversy
The Marathon, saw Cassidy pull off the start line by coaches on safety grounds. Controversially, the roads used for the marathon route were not ‘closed’ on race day and were open to traffic. Canadian and Great Britain coaches deemed this to be too dangerous.
For the Marathon, Cassidy, winner of the 2010 London Marathon, had prepared long and hard but around 11pm, the night before the race, the nations were informed that the marathon route would not be closed but it would be open to traffic. “This was unbelievable, unheard of, let alone in a World Championship event”, said Cassidy, “We train on the roads with traffic at times, but to race a marathon, in packs, going through intersections when you are focusing on the competitors around you… is crazy. It was absolutely unbelievable. For this to happen at a World Championships.”
Cassidy did line up on race day but at the last minute coaches pulled Canadian athletes off the line. Britain also pulled out. While the other nations competed, their dissatisfaction was evident. Cassidy said, “It was horrible that coaches and athletes were put in such a position where they would have to choose. I believe one athlete was injured after a truck was backing out onto the marathon course. Australia’s Kurt Fearnley went on to win and totally deserved the victory”.
INTERVIEW WITH WINNER KURT FEARNLEY REGARDING MARATHON CONTROVERSY:
In Summary
On reflection, Cassidy’s commented “I was very satisfied with my performances. A year and half out from the London 2012 Games, and I’m well on track. I was one spot out, and very close to the podium on two occasions. The marathon, I’ll never know for sure. But those races that went well, I didn’t just sit back, I was a dominating force throughout, and felt no fatigue after any of the events. I couldn’t have been any more fit, and while I would liked to have been faster in the final sprint, I still hit a personal best top speed on the track. There are lots of positives to take from this. I’m looking VERY forward to London 2012, and excited to see what I can do by then.”
10000m times
1 1837 HUG Marcel T54 SUI 22:16.83
2 1542 HOKINOUE Kota T54 JPN 22:17.20
3 1868 WAHORAM Prawat T54 22:17.30
4 1146 CASSIDY Josh T54 CAN 22:18.21
5000m times
1 1395 WEIR David T54 GBR 5 JUN 1979 2 10:48.43
2 1837 HUG Marcel T54 SUI 16 JAN 1986 4 10:48.70
3 1355 CASOLI Julien T54 FRA 5 JUL 1982 8 10:48.97
4 1146 CASSIDY Josh T54 CAN 15 NOV 1984 3 10:49.28
Pre comp in Oz- Contemplating game plan it looks like
Training at Stadium
Landmark Cathedral from the square. Our hotel was next door, sadly this was reduced to rubble a few days ago in the latest earthquake
5000m Semi. Looking back, didn't know I dropped the pack from the front.
Waited for Soejima and Marcel to bridge the gap, worked together to ensure qualification
Pushing the pace
Training with Kurt Fearnley
January 2011-
Went down early to Australia to train with my man Kurt Fearnley- winner of the marathon in Beijing, among many other things. It was great to be in the sun, training hard, and having the beach there to cool off after. He’s got quite a good life setup there! Got to try surfing for the first time which was really cool too! Very tough, fun, and a little scary! I did catch a good 4 foot wave- not bad for a first try! Big thanks to Mick for taking us out!
Here is a YouTube clip from NBN News about us training together for World Championships: