Left to right: Doug Gordon, Rotary Huron Shore Run committee member, Anissa Nashkewa, Recreation Director for Saugeen First Nation and Kaylyn Kewageshig, leader for dancers and drummers.
The 28th Annual Rotary Huron Shore Run is being held this year on Saturday, June 4 and this year’s run promises to be bigger and better then ever.
See: Huron Shore Run on pace for a record year
June 4 is also Tom Longboat Day in Canada. Born on the Six Nations reserve in 1887, Thomas Longboat, whose Aboriginal name was Kakwe.ik (Everything), was a member of the Wolf clan of the O-nun'-dä-ga-o-no' (Onondaga) nation and became a world champion long-distance runner. In 1907 he won the Boston Marathon in a record time of 2:24:24 and went on to win other races as well as the title of Professional Champion of the World.
Longboat was inducted into both Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Indian Hall of Fame and is commemorated annually by the Toronto Island 10 kilometer race.
To commemorate Longboat on June 4, Rotary Huron Shore Run will kick off with dancers and drummers from Saugeen First Nation offering a prayer in front of the Southampton Coliseum and leading the runners and walkers down the main street to the start line, both at 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.
For more information on Thomas Longboat, watch this YouTube excerpt.
The Run has something for everyone, from kids to runners and walkers to cyclists and bladers. If you can’t run, get your 10,000 steps in by entering the 5k Walk and collecting pledges, sponsoring someone you know or donating online.
Runners and walkers are encouraged to enter teams and to track the amount of pledges that they collect. Gift certificates for local businesses are awarded to the top 10 pledge winners. There is a trophy for the team which collects the most and a prize for the best “flapper” bathing costume.
The Run is once more partnering with the Town of Saugeen Shores’ Health and Wellness Fair at the Coliseum in Southampton on Saturday, June 4.
Register Friday night, June 3 at the Coliseum or Saturday morning.
Following the race, lunch will be provided for participants by the Walker House and an awards ceremony will take place at the Coliseum.
The Rotary Huron Shore Run’s major cause will again be the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation. To date they have raised over $350,000 and are very excited that the shovel has gone in the ground for the new hospital expansion.
See: Groundbreaking ceremony kicks off hospital expansion
The Hospital Campaign is just $25,000 short of their goal and the Rotary Huron Shore Run hopes to put it over the top.
For more information about the Huron Shore Run, visit rotaryrun.net.
