Record registrations and possibly even a larger donation than last year, those are the two big highlights from Saturday's Thanks For Giving Run. Numbers were up substantially last year, and according to Organizer Dwight Suderman were up even further for this year's race. The races include a 5k, 10k and half marathon as well as the always popular one mile kids "Turkey Run".
"We got back here in 2022, and had about 150," explained Suderman. "Last year, suddenly, we were up to 238, I think. This year we're nudging just over 300. It's just amazing. I'm not sure what to attribute that to. I hear from the Executive Director at the Manitoba Runners Association that almost all races are showing good numbers in the last couple of years."
In 2023, the fundraiser generated $22,500 for the Winkler and District Food Cupboard, and Suderman believes they may have raised even more this year.
"The runners themselves have raised over $5,000 already, that's their donations they've come up with," he said. "We've got our corporate sponsors, of course, (who) have come through very well again this year, so I think we're going to be in a position to give maybe even more than we did last year."
Suderman was quick to spotlight the many volunteers who help make the annual fundraiser a success.
"My volunteers are awesome," he stressed. "There was fifty of them in total, and my running committee, there's eight of us total. I just love them. They are all working hard, continuously, selflessly they're all pitching in. They know what this is about, that we're trying to get funds raised for the Food Cupboard. They know this is a really good cause."
This was the 18th edition of the Thanks for Giving Run, which is a major fundraising event for the Winkler and District Food Cupboard.
"People in this community, in our area, they're having food insecurity issues just like anywhere else in the world, and we got to help them out," he said. "That's what we love doing."
Evan Bugden had the fastest time in the half marathon, posting a time of 1:17:58. The fastest female was Jennifer Bieling who completed the race in 1:34:55.
You can find full race results, here.
- With files from Jayme Giesbrecht -
