On Tuesday morning, Toronto residents witnessed an unusual sight along the lakeshore: a man dressed as a giant yellow Minion. 24-year-old Tommy Trinh set out at 5 a.m. on July 23, determined to complete a marathon in a Minion costume to support the Parkdale Food Bank.
Trinh aimed to raise $10,000 and initially promised to run a half marathon if he reached his goal. However, after surpassing his target with a flood of donations, he decided to take on the full marathon distance of 42.2 kilometers.
Starting from Cherry Beach and heading to Marie Curtis Park in Etobicoke and back, Trinh began his run early to avoid the peak summer heat. As the temperature rose, he shed the inflatable Minion suit midway through, only to reveal another Minion costume underneath.
Completing the marathon in six hours and 13 minutes, Trinh shared his motivation with the Toronto Star: “If anything, I want to remind people that you can just do stuff. You can go run a marathon and raise $10,000 for a good cause.”
Trinh said he chose this costume for its fun and absurdity, making his run both memorable and effective in drawing attention to his cause. So far, Trinh has raised $10,500 for the Parkdale Food Bank, which strives to eliminate hunger in Toronto’s Parkdale neighborhood. Donations to Trinh’s fundraiser can still be made through this link.
