This year’s Moose Jawg Charity Road Race intends to raise $5,000 as part of its continued support the Moose Jaw Health Foundation for the 18th consecutive year.
You can still register online for the event, which will be held on July 1, until Thursday, June 27. After that, you will have to print out the registration form from the website and bring it with you on race day. There is still space to register for the five-kilometre and 10-kilometre race; cutoff to register your little race in the Runt Run was June 14.
So far 247 adults have registered for the race while 40 youths have been entered into the Runt Run, explained organizer Dawn Luhning. There is no limit to how many people can enter the race; the highest number of participants was 575 during the early years of the vent.
The Moose Jawg raises funds for the health foundation since it’s a local organization, she continued. When organizers began the race 18 years ago, they wanted a community charity to receive the funds raised from the event.
“There are lots of charities that are great causes, but you don’t know if the money stays in your community,” she said. “We knew that by choosing the hospital foundation, it would stay in Moose Jaw.”
Luhning has been a part of the race right from the beginning and considers it her baby. She explained that she and a friend originally participated in running races elsewhere, such as in Regina, since Moose Jaw didn’t have anything. Furthermore, there were runners from the community who were going elsewhere to race 10 kilometres.
The race hasn’t changed much over the last two decades, Luhning said. The event still caters to people who are just beginning to run, while it also supports and welcomes groups such as the Rotary Track Club and the Jaleta Pacers from Regina. She joked that some of the younger runners finish their 5K quickly and then run another 5K for fun.
The day begins at 8:15 a.m. on Canada Day with the Runt Run for kids under age 12. That is followed by the 5K and 10K races at 8:30 a.m. The Rotary club then heats up the griddle and cooks breakfast for everyone in attendance. The awards are handed out by 10 a.m. and the race finishes up around an hour later.
Anyone who wants to volunteer is more than welcome to help, said Luhning. She can use more support with registrations, or on the course, or with parking.
“The more help the merrier,” she added.
Anyone who wants to volunteer can call Dawn Luhning at 306-681-8045 or email [email protected].
