NEWS RELEASE
ARCH HOSPICE
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Run The Great Lakes is one of the Sault’s premier running events, attracting over 500 runners of all ages and abilities each year. In the past 10 years the run has raised over $100,000 for ARCH and other local charities. COVID-19 has forced Run Committee Lead, Doug Richardson, to recalibrate the event – this year’s event will happen virtually! Can’t Run The Great Lakes will provide a new and safe way to participate in 2020!
While Run the Great Lakes is typically held on the first Sunday of June, this years Can’t Run The Great Lakes will take place from Sunday, June 21 to Sunday, June 28. Runners can still achieve their personal running targets, while participating in other fitness activities during the week of the event. Virtual events are flexible as it’s is up to the participant whether they want to walk, rollerblade, ride a bike, jog or run!
Registration is $20 for an adult, or $10 for a child. Participants are asked to commit to at least 30 minutes or more of fitness three times during the challenge week, or a 90-minute stint during the week for longer-distance runs and activities. The idea is to break the cabin fever and get active, all while supporting hospice! Anyone, anywhere can participate!
Participants are encouraged to use apps such as MapMyRun or Strava to track their activity, take photos and videos, and share their results using the hashtag #RunTheGreatLakes. With the help from Tenaris as our Platinum Event Sponsor, and our Gold Sponsors SooToday and The Shoe Fits, every dollar from t-shirt sales and registration will go directly to ARCH Hospice!
To register for this year’s virtual event, click here. As a registrant, you have the option to purchase a unique commemorative Can’t Run the Great Lakes t-shirt for $20. For regular updates, join the Facebook event here.
“Run The Great Lakes has been a community event that has been a big fundraiser for organizations like ARCH. With COVID-19, I wanted to make sure we could still support the Hospice in some way, while getting people to get out and move a bit. Hopefully it helps our community with a mental break, while raising much-needed funds for ARCH,” says Run Committee Lead, Doug Richardson.
Since opening its doors in 2008, ARCH Hospice has served over one thousand residents and their families with quality, compassionate end-of-life care and thousands more with grief and bereavement support, educational sessions, caregiver resources, and outreach services. While ARCH does not charge for its services, the Hospice is only partially government funded, requiring over $850,000 annually in community support as well as the generosity of over 140 volunteers to provide our services to the community.
“Almost everyone in our community has been touched by ARCH – whether you’ve lost a loved one, or used one of our other free services,” says Katherine Williamson, ARCH Hospice event coordinator and run committee member. “We are grateful for supporters like Run The Great Lakes, its sponsors, and all of the participants, past and future. Despite the fact we can’t all run together, we can still unite as a community to show our heart, our hope, and our support for Hospice.”
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