Ten year old Kai Bailey has been participating in the Rotary Huron Shore Run since he was in a stroller and so far for the 2021 virtual event has raised $1,290.

Hub Staff

With just over two weeks remaining in this year's virtual Rotary Huron Shore Run, to date 117 participants have registered and raised over $30,000 for Saugeen Memorial Hopsital.

With hopes of being back to normal for 2022, this year's virtual route spans 325 kilometres along the Lake Huron shoreline and participants are asked to gather pledges and run, walk, cycle, rollerblade, swim or even row "the whole distance or just your favourite part," or to participate in their own neighbourhood, until June 26, 2021.

The Rotary Huron Shore Run is sharing participants' progress on their Facebook page and website.

Saugeen First Nation's Dylan Roote has cycled his way to raising $1,700. Having already completed the 325 kilometres, Roote is adding 215 kilometres in honour of the 215 children found at the former Kamloops Residential School and their families.

The 18 member Troublesome Trekkers, who participated in the RHSR's 2020 Beat COVID-19 Challenge, have once again been encouraging each other to go the distance.

Ten year old Kai Bailey has been participating in the Rotary Huron Shore Run since he was in a stroller and to date has raised $1,290 for the 2021 event. On May 20, Bailey reported having completed 240 kilometres so far, the equivalent of travelling from Sarnia to Sauble Beach.

In a post shared to the RHSR's Facebook page, Bailey said he wants to give back. "We are lucky to have a hospital in our town," read the post, adding that Rotary does so much for Saugeen Shores and Bailey's school, GC Huston.

In an email to Saugeen Shores Hub, RHSR Organizer June Van Bastelaar said that while they certainly have been missing the in-person event "and all of its hustle and bustle," they are very pleased with the level of participation in this year's virtual edition.

In recent years, RHSR has donated $38,000 (2018), and over $40,000 (2019) from their traditional in-person fundraisers. 

"As always we are encouraging an active lifestyle and supporting our local hospital foundation which is our only cause again this year," said Van Bastelaar, adding that she, along with her husband and co-organizer John Van Bastelaar, are hopeful to be able to return to a traditional in-person event in 2022.

If you wish to sponsor a participant, donate to RHSR or register and get in on the home stretch, visit rotaryrun.net.