LAC LA BICHE - The annual Run for Hope charity event was back in action on May 28 at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park in Lac La Biche County. More than 40 participants put on their running shoes and hit the trail that Saturday morning to support the annual fundraiser that raises money to help transport cancer clients in Lac La Biche and Athabasca counties to cancer treatment appointments.
After two years of having to cancel the Run for Hope due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing awareness back to the campaign through the fun family event was a success, said Road To Hope coordinator Jessica Wallace—who experienced the event for the first time.
“I have never been involved in the event before this was my first time, but it surpassed any of my expectations for sure. We ended up with 43 participants so it was great,” said Wallace, who joined the Road to Hope group two years ago.
Prior to the fun run kicking off, in the morning participants joined in on a stretch and warm-up session led by local fitness instructor Sue LaPierre.
“It was a great exercise to get everyone ready to go,” said Wallace, explaining that participants in the six-kilometre loop track that wound through the scenic island provincial park could walk, run, push strollers or bike.
Totals for the pledges and donations collected are still being tallied, and Wallace says the fundraiser looks promising.
“A lot of pledge sheets were handed out. We are still waiting for our final number but we did great…we went into this a little bit nervous, we didn’t have a lot of people pre-registered — but then everyone showed up.”
Supporting patients
The non-profit organization is able to provide support for it's clients through a dedicated volunteer base that utilizes their own vehicles or the organization's designated van to drive patients to treatment facilities.
The average cost for each round-trip ride is more than $200, said Wallace, with costs increasing in recent months due to high fuel prices.
“Our average trip costs about $250,” she said, expressing gratitude for every dollar generated from the Run for Hope. “This money is going to help a lot of people.”
Since the organization began supporting individuals in 2008, more than 172,000 kilometres in mileage (about 14,000 kilometres a year) has been logged to get clients to treatment centres. With the pandemic restrictions affecting services over the last two years, and starting back up full-time last August, the organization is hoping to continue giving back to more patients needing to receive life-saving care.
The organization is looking forward to hitting the trail again, and from the response of the latest Run for Hope, officials know that the community continues to support them.
“Everybody who’s been involved that was there with us on Saturday made it great. It’s one of those events that really brings awareness and community involvement together,” Wallace said.
