Hub Staff

Jared Adams from Kincardine and his two running mates, Jamie Wilken and Brian Maas, both from Saugeen Shores, braved the near minus 30 temperatures Saturday morning to take part in a 10 kilometre run from the Pea Pod to the Pea Pod for Run 4 a Reason.

Adams, now 79 days into his 100 day challenge, is running 10 kilometers a day and donating $1 for every kilometre he runs to Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS).

“People have been coming out and running with me, just different people from throughout the community,” said Adams. “It’s been great, I’ve had a lot of people contacting me and wanting to run and wanting to participate, help out Big Brothers and Big Sisters.”

Adams started a gofundme page as well “to try to raise some money for Big Brothers when I first started this and then I’ve just been collecting money from people. Everything’s going directly to Big Brothers.”

Adams said there have been a lot of spin-offs as well. Ash Adams from West Shore in Kincardine has been paddleboarding all winter. “Any time the lake’s been open he’s been taking his paddleboard out and doing 5k.” Adams added that Ash too is donating to BBBS.

Adams feels that if he had had access to an organization like BBBS growing up he’d be in a different place than he is today. “I think mentorship in general’s amazing,” said Adams. “I wanted a group that dealt with children because I think that they’re the ones that are going to change the future for us and I wanted somebody that dealt a little bit with nutrition because I’m really passionate about good eating, a healthy lifestyle,” he continued.

Adams has been strictly vegan for nearly a year. “The changes I’ve felt are just amazing. My performance is better. I feel better. I sleep better. I can recover faster from every workout,” he said. “It’s great, the ethical side of it makes me feel good too so it’s something that goes with it.”

Adams chose the Pea Pod’s opening day for Saturday’s run. The Pea Pod is a new vegan restaurant located in the Mercer House, Southampton.

Related: New vegan restaurant about more than the food

For more information on Run 4 a Reason, or to make a donation, visit gofundme.com/Run4aReasonBBBS. You can also find out more on Run 4 a Reason's Facebook page.