Running club rallies behind injured Orem marathoner

Running club rallies behind injured Orem marathoner

(Tongia Vakaafi)


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OREM — Members of an Orem-based running club, known as the Sojourners, are teaming up to help one of their own who is in need of knee surgery.

Tongia Vakaafi was riding bikes with his children when he had an accident that injured his right knee. Having torn his ACL and meniscus, Vakaafi was told that surgery is required to repair the damage.

And while his condition may not be life-threatening, it is threatening a way of life that has been an integral part of Vakaafi since he was a young boy growing up in the South Pacific Island of Tonga.

Starting at the age of 6, Vakaafi would run to and from school, often due to his fear of bullies. But it was during those runs that he gained a love for the constant forward motion of his legs that propelled him faster and faster.

Vakaafi dreamed of someday running in the Olympics, but his dream would be put on the backburner. His father left his family when he was 8, followed a few years later by the death of his mother, leaving him to take care of his younger sisters.

It would be over 30 years after his first run as a child when Vakaafi would rekindle his dream of running in the Olympics.

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Friends and family encouraged him to contact the International Olympic Committee to see about competing in the marathon for his home country of Tonga. After a positive response, Vakaafi was one step closer to his dream.

KSL.com first told his story last July.

Vakaafi was well on his way to completing his goal after representing Tonga in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland and was looking forward to running at the Pacific Games in Papua, New Guinea, at the end of the summer.

With the recent injury to his knee, Vakaafi will not only be putting his dream on hold, but is in jeopardy of not being able to run again should he not receive surgery.

When friend and fellow Sojourners Running Club teammate Bill Hiatt found out about Vakaafi, he wanted to do something to help him cover the cost of surgery.

"I know Toni is hesitant to ask for help, but I'll do it for him," Hiatt said.


I know Toni is hesitant to ask for help, but I'll do it for him.

–Bill Hiatt, teammate


Hiatt contacted Hawk Harper, the owner of Runner's Corner, where the Sojourners Running Club is based, to see if he would be willing to help. With no hesitation, Harper agreed.

Harper, the Runner's Corner staff and runners from the Sojourners Running Club have decided to donate part of the funds received for their upcoming Hobble Creek Half Marathon that will be held Aug. 15.

Hawk has extended race registration until the end of July to accept more entries to help Vakaafi, and will also have a booth set up both at packet pickup and the finish line to accept donations.

When Tongia Vakaafi and his wife Monica Vakaafi heard what was being done to help, they were overwhelmed with gratitude.

"I have been with the running club 10 years, and I like everything about them," Tongia Vakaafi said. "They are fun, give great assistance, and they also inspire me to reach my goal.They are great people."

Monica Vakaafi spoke lovingly about her husband. "He injured himself playing with his children. He is a wonderful dad — the best dad."

To register for the race, go to http://srcevents.com/hobblecreek/. A Gofundme account has also been set up for those who cannot attend the race, but would like to help.


Arianne is a mother of six young children, and an Altra, PROBAR, Nuun, and Unshoes sponsored athlete. For more writings by her, search "A Mother's Write" on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter @arimom6.

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