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Spencer Levine and Amanda Tam after completing 42.2 kilometres of the Montreal Marathon together on October 11, 2026. (Johanie Bouffard, CityNews)<\/p>\nA Montreal couple crossed the finish line together Sunday after taking on 42.2 kilometres of the Montreal Marathon, with Spencer Levine pushing his wife, Amanda Tam, who lives with ALS, in a special wheelchair.<\/p>\n
After months of training, the couple completed the marathon in three hours and 47 minutes, beating the four-hour goal they had set for themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe set out to do this course in four hours, and we ended up finishing in three hours and 47 minutes. So absolutely smashed our target, and we just had so much fun the whole way,\u201d Levine said.<\/p>\n
For Tam, completing her first marathon was also an emotional experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was super fun. I was overwhelmed at the time that I wasn\u2019t ready for the amount of people to know me or even know my story.\u201d<\/p>\n
The couple took on the challenge in hopes of raising awareness about ALS and sharing Tam\u2019s experience living with the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cALS does not discriminate against anyone. I mean, the average person who gets ALS are usually white men in their 50s to 60s, and clearly I don\u2019t fit that demographic, so I want to spread awareness, share my story,\u201d Tam said.<\/p>\n
They were among 21,500 runners who took to the streets Sunday, including 6,000 marathoners. Organizers say about 35,000 people participated in races throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n
Along the course, their story caught the attention of runners, spectators and organizers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt give me goosebumps. I saw them at the start line this morning. I gave them a hug. I said, you\u2019re beautiful. You keep smiling,\u201d said Alex Ratth\u00e9, general manager of Courons.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of hours that you have to put into that preparation. So I\u2019m really impressed,\u201d said half-marathon runner Catherine Laberge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t even imagine the determination it takes. It must take months and months of preparation. He did it, and that\u2019s incredible,\u201d added M\u00e9gane De Repentigny.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of strength, a lot of endurance. So I think it\u2019s very, very, very cool,\u201d said Gabriel.<\/p>\n
Spencer Levine and Amanda Tam after completing 42.2 kilometres of the Montreal Marathon together on October 11, 2026. (Johanie Bouffard, CityNews)<\/p>\n
The couple\u2019s journey also shines a light on accessibility barriers in Montreal while raising money for ALS Quebec to support people affected by the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe successfully raised $15,000 for ALS Quebec. So we hit our target just last night and we are so, happy to support such a great organization,\u201d Levine said.<\/p>\n
For Tam, however, the marathon was also about showing what life with ALS can still look like and giving a voice to others living with the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to show people that even though you have a death sentence with ALS, it doesn\u2019t mean you have to stop living. I mean, I\u2019ve lived more now than I ever did. And the whole point of my story and my goal objective is to bring a voice to those who have lost it to this disease.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u2018Du c\u0153ur \u00e0 la course\u2019 program brought together 61 organizations. Together, they have raised more than $1.23 million toward a $1.35-million goal, with three weeks left in the campaign according to the organization\u2019s press release.<\/p>\n
The Montreal Beneva Marathon is scheduled to return from Sept. 17 to 19, 2027. Registration is already open.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tSpencer Levine and Amanda Tam after completing 42.2 kilometres of the Montreal Marathon together on October 11, 2026. (Johanie Bouffard, CityNews) <\/p>\n
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