Young Toronto man running across Nigeria in honour of his brother
Fadesola Adedayo will be running 17 marathons in 17 days beginning on April 20 in honour of his brother who passed away from Stevens-Johnson syndrome (Photography: Samantha Falco).
When Fadesola Adedayo’s brother passed away, the Torontonian felt paralyzed by grief and turned to running as a means of dealing with it. Now, Adedayo, 24, will be running 17 marathons over the span of 17 days in his birth country of Nigeria, from Abuja to Lagos.
Adedayo’s brother Adeyosola, a doctor with a six-month old son at the time, died from Stevens-Johnson syndrome after experiencing an allergic reaction to medication he received from treating patients with HIV in Nigeria. He was 27.
In hopes of raising money and awareness for deadly skin diseases including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Adedayo is embarking on the 17-day journey, named “17 in 17.” Stevens-Johnson is a rare, serious disorder where affected skin cells die and shed.
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Adedayo moved to Canada when he was 10 as an immigrant in elementary school and later attended the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont., graduating with a civil engineering degree.
“We’re hoping for a late spring date – we have a date in mind but we’ll announce it when all the logistics are 100 per cent set,” said Adedayo. He has since announced that he will begin the run on May 13.
He’s funded the trip partially through selling juices and smoothies to friends and family and began running shortly after his brother’s death in 2012. Running has been an avenue of dealing with depression for Adedayo, who has logged thousands of kilometres in training to prepare himself for the fundraising effort.
During the summer of 2015, he was consistently averaging 130-kilometre weeks in preparation. In June, 2015, for example, Adedayo logged 531 kilometres.
“It’s been huge,” said Adedayo of the impact running has had. “I think runner’s high is something that all runners can identify with and it really kept me going. I’ve tried many other forms of exercise – nothing is quite as freeing as running. Plus it’s accessible to everyone.”
Of course with any race comes the necessity of familiarity. Adedayo shipped 1,440 bottles of Gatorade to Nigeria to prevent any stomach issues. “It was a logistical nightmare but I was able to send it by mail from a low cost retailer and get it on a container,” added Adedayo.
“I’m sure every runner can identify with making sure your training regimen is the same as your race day routine.” Though he would have liked to traverse the entire country, Adedayo is beginning in Abuja, the nation’s capital, because it’s the safest place to start.
He grew up in Lagos, the financial capital of Nigeria, and intends to finish the 17 in 17 trek there. The Nigerian government is also providing Adedayo with police escorts along the way as a means of safety though the roads are relatively safe according to the 24-year-old.
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