It might be a couple of months away, but preparations are already well underway for the Coal Country Run.
The 13th annual fundraiser will take place May 9 at 10 a.m., using a route in and around Woodlawn Regional Park. There will be five-kilometre and 10-kilometre runs and walks for the public to choose from, along with the mini-mile for children.
Rotary Park will serve as the start-finish area.
Debby Knight, who organizes the event alongside Peggy Rohatyn, said they have received some registrations already, and they have some good support from sponsors.
It is a timed event, and there will be awards in six different age categories for both males and females.
Also back for this year will be the wellness expo at Rotary Hall, in which vendors can come and sell their products that are health and wellness related. It’s free for the vendors and for people who attend.
“We’ve got quite a few vendors who are interested in coming to it this year,” said Knight.
Proceeds from the Coal Country Run will be directed to Fresh Air Fitness, the outdoor fitness site at Woodlawn Regional Park that Knight and Rohatyn opened back in 2017.
“Since we started back in 2008, it’s always been our purpose that the fundraising goes back to the community, and we’ve always given all of our fundraising back, and it’s usually to different things pertaining to health and wellness.”
The support shown for the Coal Country Run-Walk and the Run the Course, which Knight and Rohatyn held in October at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course, raised $10,000 for Fresh Air Fitness last year. With the money, Fresh Air Fitness was able to purchase a donor sign, an aerial yoga apparatus to offer different types of classes, and an upper body strength apparatus to meet the needs of those looking to build their upper-body strength.
The donor wall was important, she said, so they could salute all those who have helped make the facility possible.
“Our intention there is to keeping adding and to keep growing and keep maintaining, and just try to facilitate all different abilities and interests,” said Knight.
Knight and Rohatyn also had a Community Hero Challenge during the Run the Course that attracted members of the Estevan Police Service, Estevan RCMP, Estevan Fire Rescue Service, Estevan Emergency Medical Services and the Canada Border Services Agency, in support of the United Way Estevan.
They have also started a $500 scholarship for a graduate of the Estevan Comprehensive School who is looking to enter a wellness-related career.
Early bird pricing for the Coal Country Run will be in effect until March 15. The participation fee will then increase, and it will go up again April 15. The price will remain the same until race day.
Knight said they want to have as many people register as quickly as possible.
