Shelley Donald thought this past Run For Life may have been her last, but contributions from the community will keep the charity race going for at least another year.
Run For Life started in 2003 when Donald and 12 other organizers decided to create a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society and the B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents Association.
Over the years, the five-kilometre race saw fewer and fewer people participating, as well as fewer people signing up to organize the event.
“It’s too much for one person,” Donald said before the April 9 race. “You still have to do all the same things, whether you have 50 or whether you have 250” people coming to the event. On April 9, 130 people participated in the run.
After its moment of uncertainty, Donald said, the race is back on its feet thanks in large part to local realtor Randy Mann.
In a letter to the Reporter, Donald wrote: “The word on the street is this was my last Run for Life, but with the support and generosity of Randy Mann, plus the people who have since contacted me to help out next year, Run for Life will continue.”
Mann had sponsored the race’s timing system for the last two years.
“This year when I heard [Donald] wasn’t going to be moving foward with it, I though there must be something we can do as a community,” he said.
“It’s been such a big part of the community for the last 15 years. It’s something that can’t just stop.”
Mann isn’t sure exactly how he’ll be supporting the run in the future, but thinks promoting it on social media may be key to its survival.
This year’s event raised more than $3,700 for the Canadian Cancer Society and nearly $1,300 for the B.C. Childhood Cancer Parents Association.
Next year’s Run For Life will take place on April 8 at Sungod Arena. Anyone who would like to help out with the race is encouraged to contact Donald at sdonald@delta.ca.