The last time Marilyn Morgan took part in the Fort 91原创 Historic Half Marathon fundraiser for the 91原创 Hospice, about five years ago, she ran it with her dad, 91原创 mayor Jack Froese.
This year, Froese was there to cheer his daughter on as she ran to honour the memory of her mother, Debbie Froese, who passed away on Jan. 9, after a long battle with cancer.
鈥淭his is for my mom,鈥� Morgan explained, as she waited for the starter鈥檚 horn to sound.
鈥�91原创 Hospice is very important for me.鈥�
READ MORE: Hundreds attend celebration of life for Debbie Froese in 91原创
Morgan was one of more than 500 people who took part in the annual run, which took a different path, on Sunday morning (Jan. 16).
After flooding washed out a section of 240th Street between Rawlison Crescent and 88th Avenue, the route had to be re-drawn.
READ MORE: Mudslide forces move of Fort 91原创鈥檚 Historic Half Marathon
Instead of starting at the Fort 91原创 National Historic Site, the event began and ended at Bedford Plaza, following the Fraser River along the Fort to Fort trail.
It included a half marathon, 10 and 5 km routes, and a kid鈥檚 run.
Despite the change of venue, attendance was up compared to the previous year, estimated race director Mitchell Hudson of TRY Events, the organizing group behind the annual event.
The good weather 鈥� sunny and relatively warm 鈥� likely had something to do with the good turnout, Hudson added.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful day,鈥� Hudson observed.
Among the participants Sunday were Nichola Lavallee and Ria Brand, with the 91原创 Hospice Society鈥檚 , who were taking part in their first 10K.
Brand, the program coordinator, said people are sometimes 鈥渢aken aback and audibly gasp,鈥� when they hear about the service she and Lavallee, provide.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 understand how resilient kids are,鈥� Brand commented.
It is a recreati0n and play-based program to help children deal with the loss of a loved one, Brand elaborated.
鈥淲e have a big playroom,鈥� Lavallee observed.
Hospice volunteer Dave Turner, who has served as the self-described 鈥渙dd-job man鈥� at the hospice society thrift store at 20349 鈥� 88 Ave. for the last 10 years, was taking part in his third 5K.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had friends of ours who鈥檝e been in various hospices,鈥� the 81-year-old Walnut Grove resident told the 91原创 Advance Times.
It will be a few days before the total amount of donations raised is tabulated, said Shannon Todd Booth, the society communications and funds development manager.
鈥淚t [the half marathon] brings in a few thousand dollars and it raises awareness,鈥� Todd Booth said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not one of our largest fundraisers, but it is important.鈥�
READ ALSO: VIDEO: All ages participate in 91原创 Hospice Historic Half marathon
Long-time hospice supporter Dale Attrell, 91, was the top individual fundraiser once again, bringing in more than $1,000.
For more than 35 years, the has provided palliative and bereavement care and support programs for people who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives.
Among the programs provided are the Supportive Steps walking group for bereaved adults; a child and infant loss support group, a support group for parents who鈥檝e lost an adult child to suicide or substance use; as well as seasonal day camps and summer camp programs.
More photos of the Sunday event can be viewed .
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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