Canada Day Run/Walk being led by new organizers this year

By Ron Giofu

A run/walk that allows its participants to show their patriotic spirit will be returning, but with different organizers.

Molly Allaire and her husband Dan are organizing the race this year, in cooperation with Walkers & Runners Around the County of Essex (WRACE). The goal is to have 500 participants register for the July 1 run/walk.

That would be down from the 800 people that took part in last year’s Canada D’Eh run/walk. Allaire pointed out this year’s event only started taking registrants May 3 and now has close to 100.

The last day to register is June 29 but those who want to be certain they can get a Canada Day run T-shirt should sign up by June 17.

All participants of the 5K event will receive a medal, stated Allaire, who is also an Amherstburg town councillor.

Sponsors thus far include Movati Athletic, Seasons Retirement Home and the Rosati Group. Additional sponsors are welcome, she indicated, adding that all proceeds raised will go to charity. Movati has also volunteered the use of their facility so participants can get cleaned up and enjoy the rest of the Canada Day festivities that will be offered in Amherstburg this year.

Non-profit organizations the proceeds will be earmarked for include the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, Amherstburg Community Services (ACS) and the Bryerswood Youth Camp Optimist Club (BYCOC).

“We’re hoping to raise about $5,000 for each,” said Allaire. “Any proceeds we raise are going directly to the three charities. All the money stays local.”

This year’s Canada Day Run/Walk will follow the same course as previous years, meaning it will start in front of Fort Malden National Historic Site of Canada, head down Fort Malden Dr. to Dalhousie St., head south on Dalhousie St. to where it meets Front Road South and then head back down the same streets to Fort Malden.

There are expenses in order to make it a “fun and safe event,” she added. Allaire said they hope to build the race back up to the level of previous years as time goes on.

There will also be a children’s dash that will start at 9 a.m. that morning, with the 1K event preceding the regular 5K run/walk.

All children will receive a medal, even if they have to turn back without making it the full kilometre.

“We’re trying to make some good surprises for the kids who participate,” said Allaire. “Hopefully we get some good sponsors for that.”

People can sign up at www.raceroster.com and look up Amherstburg, or they can search under the “Events” tab at www.wrace.org.

In addition to participants from around WindsorEssex County, Allaire said they already have participants signed up from as far as London and Kitchener-Waterloo.

“It’s actually very impressive,” she said. “To get someone from Waterloo is pretty cool.”

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