If you run in Yorkton, you’ve heard the name Bernie Wlock. The local man has been a fixture of the local running community, from his decade of work with the Health Foundation’s Charity Road Race to his work with the connected Learn to Run Clinics. It’s only natural that a tribute to Wlock would involve a run, and as a tribute as Wlock battles cancer, the Health Foundation and Brayden Ottenbreit’s Close Cuts for Cancer are launching the Bernie’s Journey Charity Run, to be held on June 18.
Describing the run as a natural fit, Ross Fisher, Executive Director of the Health Foundation says that they wanted to have an event would connect with Wlock’s dedication to running and the community as a whole.
“When we found out that Bernie was going through his own struggle with cancer this year, it only made sense for us that we would do something to commemorate that, honour his struggle, and show our support for him as he has shown his support for so many people within the community.”
All of the proceeds will go to Brayden Ottenbret’s Close Cuts for Cancer’s Local Initiatives Program. Leone Ottenbreit with Close Cuts says that before he was diagnosed, Wlock was a participant in the Close Cuts head shaving event.
Money raised will be spent locally, Ottenbreit says. Previous projects for the local initiatives part of Close Cuts have been the permanent Palliative care rooms, lymphedema programs, community oncology programs and digital mammography.
“Our aim is to enhance the lives of people who are battling cancer from Yorkton and area, and allow them to stay here for any part of their diagnostic and treatment options.”
Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. with the run itself at 8:30 a.m. at the Yorkton Fire Hall on June 18. All runners will get breakfast at 9:00 a.m. following the run, and breakfast will be available to the community by donation. Fisher hopes that Wlock will be able to make it to the run itself.
