After being unable to hold the event due to last year’s wildfires, the CIBC Run for Our Lives Mud Run event is coming back later this month.
The event was first launched in 2005 on a desire to raise money on a local level to support cancer research. The event is overseen by the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation, which is dedicated to raising money for patient care and new equipment at the Hospital.
Patty Olexin-Lang, the Executive Director of the Foundation, explained what the main focus of the fundraising has been in recent years.
“So up until 2014, they concentrated more on breast cancer initiatives, helping fund the breast cancer navigator position here in Yellowknife, and funded a new digital mammography machine. Since 2014, they had decided to switch to all types of cancers.”
Since the Run for Our Lives event began, they have been able to raise just over $1.5 million. That money has been used to purchase new and cutting edge technology for the hospital, with the most recent acquisition being a digital breast tomosynthesis mammography machine.
“It’s the gold-standard right now for mammography machines, and it was purchased over the last six months, and has been installed and in service since this past March. We’re getting rave reviews from patients that have had their mammograms, which for those of us who have to have those, it’s great to hear that. There’s a little bit less discomfort in this one.”
The last few years proved to be challenging for the Mud Run event. Due to the pandemic, the event had to be called off entirely for 2020 and 2021. This didn’t leave the Foundation dead in the water, however, as they were able to shift into holding online raffles to ensure that at least some money was still coming in.
Last year ended up being the only year where no event of any kind could take place, as the wildfire evacuations struck just before the Mud Run was to be held, and with everyone gone for three weeks, there was simply no time left to set it up once everyone had returned. The Foundation instead focused on making sure that this year’s event is on time and ready to go.
The Mud Run is open to all ages, and has multiple options for participants to chose from. This year will see new obstacles for runners to work around, and the Foundation is also looking into putting together a cookout after the run is complete. Prizes will also be available for things such as Best Costume, and Highest Raised Funds. A trip from Canadian North is also on the line for the single adult who raises the most money over $1,000.
Tanya Kearnery, the Chair of the CIBC Run for Our Lives Committee, stated that they always try to have something new for the event.
“We keep trying to improve on it every year, especially with the different obstacles that we have as well, just to try and make it a bit more fun. We have a DJ coming out this year to try and keep everyone in a good mood and try to keep the energy flowing.”
Participants in the Run, as well as would-be volunteers to help set up, can register online at the Stanton Foundation website.
Patty expressed her thanks to all of the sponsors for the event: CIBC, Advanced Medical Solutions, Rio Tinto Diavik Diamond Mine, Canadian North, Tim Horton’s, The Elk’s Lodge 214, Simon & Lemore Dejong Family Foundation, De Beers Group, Elite Commercial Flooring, Larga Kitikmeot and Larga Ltd.
Registration for the Mud Run will be open until Wednesday, September 11th, with the event itself taking place on Saturday, September 14th.
