The first year holding the CIBC Run for the Cure on the waterfront in Nanaimo drew a crowd. The event was held on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Maffeo Sutton Park and participants ran or walked to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.
“The whole committee of volunteers has been absolutely incredible to work with and the turnout this year far exceeded our last year's numbers and we want to grow every year, obviously,” said Lonnie Eckardt, volunteer run director, adding that the run raised more than $58,000 locally.
The event ran throughout the morning on Sunday and included both a one and five kilometre route along the waterfront. Eckardt said it is hard to say whether the new location played a role in the large turnout, but he is grateful to the City of Nanaimo for helping make it possible to hold the event at Maffeo Sutton.
“This is an amazing location – we are out by the water and the city really helped support us to be able to deliver this event year and we hope to be at the same location again next year,” he said.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, more than 55,000 participants and volunteers showed up at more than 50 run locations across Canada, raising more than $15 million.
