The CIBC Run for Our Lives (RFOL) Committee have just announced that after it’s two-year hiatus, the “Mud Run for Our Lives” was a huge success this year, with final numbers coming in at $130,000, which includes the 3-year, $75,000 commitment ($25,000 per year) from CIBC.
This year’s Mud Run for Our Lives was held at the Yellowknife Ski Club on Saturday, September 10th, 2022, and it couldn’t have been a better day all around. The weather was perfect, the course was in great shape for a Mud Run and there was a record 400 plus participants, young and old alike!
“With all donations in and totaled, we are extremely happy with the results after not having the Mud Run for two years. The amount raised through the online donation efforts of our participants, our dedicated sponsors, and CIBC Branches in Hay River and Inuvik, NT, exceeded our expectations once again,” commented Committee Chair for the RFOL, Natalie Kellar.
“The obstacles were mostly in good shape after being in the elements for the last two years, a few needed some attention and with the help of volunteers, we had the course ready on time. We had some fun and unexpected additions this year, a blow-up colon for everyone to walk through when registering and the launch of author Laurie Sarkadi’s book, “My “Free” Trip to Santa Fe,” which is an inspiring story told by Laurie, of husband Francois Rossouw’s journey following his diagnosis of colorectal cancer,” she added.
In addition to the $126,800, an anonymous donation was sent in later in the fall of $75,000, and even more funds were recieved from the annual Robin’s Nest Ladies F*CK Cancer Golf Tournament. The RFOL also held a 50/50 raffle at the Folk on the Rocks event during the summer. With everything added up, that brings the grand total to $220,447!
“We couldn’t be happier for the RFOL and their campaign to support the purchase of a new DBT Mammography Machine for the Stanton Territorial Hospital. The RFOL Committee works so hard to put on this event, and to see the outpouring of support through sponsors, online donations, and volunteers, it makes all their hard work worth it,” Executive Director of the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation, Patty Olexin-Lang said.
The RFOL’s newest Capital Campaign, which was launched in 2021, is for the purchase of a new Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) Mammography Machine for the Stanton Territorial Hospital. DBT is proven to be superior to digital mammography by producing exceptionally clear three-dimensional images, enabling practitioners to see details in breast tissue in a way never before possible. The cost for a DBT mammography machine is approximately $600,000. This puts the RFOL’s fundraising total at almost $400,000 of the approximate $600,000 required to purchase the machine.
The CIBC Run for Our Lives mission is to continuously improve the quality of cancer care, equipment, and initiatives available in the NWT through the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation.
