COLD LAKE - On a rainy Friday morning, members of the Cold Lake community joined hands with veterans, cadets, and aviation enthusiasts to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in a unique and energetic way.
The RCAF Centennial Fun Run and Wellness Walk, organized by Cold Lake 4 Wing, took place at the Medley Terminal from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., drawing a diverse crowd, eager to celebrate.
Rob Larson, a Personal Support Program employee for 4 Wing Cold Lake, spoke about the significance of the event, saying, “We have some veterans here running today, we might have some cadets out, anyone who is not yet a member is a future or potential member of the RCAF. So, it’s really representing our teams of the future, past, and present with the run this morning.”
The event, originally expecting over 1,000 participants, saw such overwhelming interest that it had to be reopened for more registrations, reaching over 1,300.
“We have some first-time 5K runners. We are hoping to make this a unique experience for you to take on the runway for this event.”
Hannah Penn, the Fitness Coordinator at 4 Wing Cold Lake who sat on the committee to organize this event, also spoke about the success of the event.
“We're here today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the RCAF. I've been joking that this is a once-in-a-century race because something like this doesn't happen often, especially a race at this hour.”
Penn highlighted the community inclusivity of the event, noting, “Fitness is important to the military. We need to make sure that all of our troops are operational and are able to do their job at any time. So 5K, we support that. We have some people that are not from the army up here, but they are still here.”
Penn also noted, "We wanted this event to be meaningful, memorable, and, of course, a safe and fun experience for everyone. We hope that people can come together for a healthy activity on this beautiful Friday."
After completing a 5km run and walk, participants were treated to a healthy breakfast, fostering camaraderie and celebrating a century of excellence in Canadian aviation.
