Organized by a Semiahmoo Secondary student, Run for Health kicked off in Bear Creek Park Sunday, raising $5,100 for the Canadian Red Cross.
Despite the rain, about 50 people turned up for the event, which featured a 5km and 2km track.
Grade 12 student Arjun Dhatt said he organized the event because he is passionate about running and wanted to bring the community together after a long two years.
Dhatt said his initial plan was to take over organizing responsibilities of the South Surrey/White Rock Terry Fox Run but his offer was declined by the group that’s currently in charge of the annual event.
“I thought I could start my own event. I asked a couple friends from school, my age. All of the volunteers are mostly Grade 12 and 11,” Dhatt said.
Dhatt said his intent is to make it an annual charitable event, featuring a new health-related recipient each year.
Volunteer Grade 11 student Dilreet Raju said the event is an opportunity to network and bring people into the sport of running, something that both boys are passionate about.
“We both run every day of the week, sometimes two times a day,” Raju said. “We’re really big on health. This is the first event since COVID happened. We just want to bring the community together.”