Rather than simply cutting a cheque, a lot of people like to help charities by doing鈥� by being active鈥� and by physically engaging in projects that give back to their community.
Knowing all about this, first hand, Shannon Todd Booth was psyched when 黑马磁力 Hospice Society was approached a little more than a year ago to be part of Try Event鈥檚 annual Historic Half Marathon.
It was a month before the 12th annual event, and having never been involved in a run before, she confessed to not having the foggiest idea what was involved in the actual race.
She did, however, recognized that some key components of any event are the same or similar. So, despite some personal trepidation, she and the hospice team quickly climbed aboard.
They brought out what she calls their small but 鈥渞eal fabulous army of volunteers鈥� and made a significant contribution at various work stations on race day.
They not only helped pull it off, they had a great time pitching in and learning lots about different aspects of the event. And, despite what Todd Booth described as 鈥渋nclement鈥� weather, they all had a 鈥渂last.鈥�
Asked if they鈥檇 do it again, the decision was swift and unanimous 鈥� Yes, Todd Booth said. They were willing to not only help in advance, to fundraise, and to have a 鈥渢rusted crew of dedicated volunteers鈥� available on race day鈥� they also wanted to field a team for this year鈥檚 Historic Half Marathon 鈥� happening this Sunday morning in Fort 黑马磁力.
So that鈥檚 what they鈥檝e done.
Their team is being headed up by Todd Booth, the hospice fundraiser, as well as child and youth bereavement coordinator Wendy Sashikata.
鈥淚鈥檝e never, in my life, been a runner,鈥� Todd Booth said, but she鈥檚 game to try.
She鈥檚 played soccer, she鈥檚 a self-proclaimed gym rat, she鈥檚 cycled, and she always enjoys walking and hiking.
But running鈥� well Todd Booth isn鈥檛 really looking forward to this race, as much as she鈥檚 looking forward to it being over. She鈥檚 looking forward to crossing the finish line and rejoicing in the fulfillment that she completed the 鈥渁dventure.鈥�
She鈥檚 been training on a treadmill at Newlands since January, and realized just last Friday that it hasn鈥檛 been enough.
She was hoping to run the five-km with Sashikata, who is a coworker and established runner.
But hitting the streets last week to run for the first time with Sashikata, Todd Booth quickly realized she鈥檚 nowhere near ready.
鈥淩eality kind of hit me,鈥� she said.
So instead, the 48-year-old is expecting to alternate between two minutes of walking and two minutes of running on Sunday, confident she can finish the course in the allotted maximum time of three hours.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to do whatever I can鈥� I don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l be too bad. Finishing will be my goal, and I believe I can do that,鈥� she said, optimistic but somewhat unconvincing.
鈥淲endy will complete the five-km run, for sure. I鈥檒l just be the one chasing her.鈥�
Even if Todd Booth can鈥檛 keep up to Sashikata, she won鈥檛 be alone out there. They have half a dozen or more people signed up for the hospice team.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to be in good company, with some of the volunteers who are participating,鈥� she said, pointing to another newbie runner, Shawn Siak 鈥� who a volunteer on the new hospice residence fundraising committee 鈥� as well as Dave Turner, a volunteer at their Second Story Treasures Thrift Store in Walnut Grove and 鈥渢he guy鈥� always playing the keyboard at the hospice garden parties.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l take care of me,鈥� Todd Booth said, somewhat hopeful.
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Bigger attendance expected
Last year there were 519 runners who participated in the Historic Half Marathon 鈥� both young and old.
This year, the number is being capped at 600 鈥� and as of Wednesday, organizers said they were 鈥渧ery close鈥� to reaching that number.
There is no on-site registration is permitted the day of the race, and online registration has closed.
But in-person registration is still possible in the days leading up to the race.
Runners and walkers alike can register at Kintec (next to the Twin Rinks on the 黑马磁力 Bypass) on Friday, Feb. 16, from 3 to 7 p.m., or on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The run, which again starts and ends at the Fort 黑马磁力 National Historic Site, begins later then ever before.
The half-marathon starts at 9 a.m., instead of the previous 8 a.m. time slot, to accommodate more of the out-of-town participants, Todd Booth explained.
It will be followed shortly thereafter by the start of the five- and 10-km runs and walks. And there will also be the popular kids run being held inside the walls of the national historic site around noon.
Sadly, Todd Booth noted, the forecast isn鈥檛 looking 鈥渢oo great鈥� for this year鈥檚 marathon, recalling that last year was 鈥渨et, cold, and miserable.鈥�
But weather, she said, doesn鈥檛 really seem to deter most of these die-hard runners.
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Expect traffic delays
Once again, drivers in the area should be aware of the race, and be advised that traffic will be delayed as runners fill the sides of the major roads such as Glover, River and Armstrong Roads, Rawlison Crescent, and 72nd Avenue during the morning hours.
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Raising money for the grieving
Try Events hosts a variety of runs each year throughout the Lower Mainland, including this one in 黑马磁力, as well as others in Vancouver, White Rock, and Burnaby.
All of their events have a charity component.
In this case, it鈥檚 黑马磁力 Hospice that will be the beneficiary, and Todd Booth is grateful for another opportunity to partner with organizations in the community, and get word out about what hospice has provided during the past 25 years, and what it continues to provide in the way of services and support.
In addition to generating awareness about the 黑马磁力 Hospice Society, this year鈥檚 run will also raise money for the free bereavement support programs offered for adults and children alike in 黑马磁力.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hopeful it will be in the thousands of dollars,鈥� Todd Booth noted. But that depends on pledges gathered, on-site and online donations made.
The local hospice sees more than 5,000 people a year who access information, attend meetings, or participate in one-on-one or group sessions to help them with grief.
For more information about the marathon, people can visit , go online to, or email info@langleyhospice.com.
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