SPOKANE, Wash. — More than 32,000 participants took to the streets for the Lilac City’s 49th annual Bloomsday Race on Sunday, but for one Spokane man, the race was more than just a beloved tradition.
Bill Voiland has completed roughly 20 Bloomsdays over the years. This year was his third time completing the race with the help of a walker, after suffering a stroke a few years ago.
“I’m one step after the other,” Voiland said as he stood atop the course’s infamous “Doomsday Hill.”
Voiland was joined by his sister, who participated in the race for the first time.
Their teamwork and encouragement were on full display as they navigated the hills and bluffs overlooking the Spokane River.
“My plan is to irritate him and then I go about 20 yards ahead and let him catch me,” Voiland’s sister joked.
When asked what he would say to those who doubt their ability to finish the race, Voiland offered simple advice: “You don’t have to [run it], just take it one step after the other. And as we say, it’s quite a ‘feet.’”
From the deck of the iconic Monroe Street Bridge to the finish line, Voiland and his sister pushed forward, cheered on by thousands. For them, and for so many others, the coveted Bloomsday finisher’s shirt was more than a prize—it was proof of perseverance.
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