The Rose Garden Hospice is looking to beautify their outdoor space, and on Saturday they launched a new fundraiser to help make that idea a reality.
The Rose Garden Hospice hosted their first-ever Run for Rose fun run on Saturday. Barb Broda, board member for the Rose Garden Hospice and co-chair of the organizing committee, said they needed a fundraiser that was simple and fun, and holding a run fit that
description.
“We needed a fundraiser. We needed one that wasn’t going to cost us a lot of money,” Broda explained. “We needed some landscaping done so we figured this would be a good way to start the process.”
Marina Mitchell, daughter of Rose Garden Hospice namesake Rose Daschuk, said the event
was also a way to bring people out.
“It’s something that everybody can you do whether walk or run,” she explained. “It’s a family event.”
Broda and Mitchell said that they were not looking for a race, but more of a fun run. The Run
for Rose sold out, with more than 250 runners and walkers participating.
“It sold out the Tuesday before the race,’ Broda said.
“We are very excited. It’s going to be a great day,” she added
The Run for Rose consists of a 2 KM Family Walk/Run (Family of 4), 2KM Individual Walk/Run, 5 KM Walk/Run $50 and 10 KM Run.
The opening of the event included speeches by Hospice board chair Wayne Nogier, Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave, Prince Albert Northcote MLA Alana Ross, Mayor Greg Dionne and a special song by the afternoon’s entertainment The Project. Broda was also
presented a gift for her work to put together the event by artist Cheryl Ring.
The three races took off in staggered times with the 10K launching first followed by the 5K a half hour later and both 2K races 15 minutes after that.
The first place finisher for the men’s division of the 10K was Cory Dyck and for women was Christina Charles.
“A little staggered, (it’s) going to be busy out there on the road,” Broda said.
The run went along the Rotary Trail and the 10K turnaround was near the Saskatchewan Penitentiary.
“The five-kilometer people turn around right kind of behind the basketball courts at the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse,” Broda said.
The Rotary Club of Prince Albert will be donating $50,000 and that the money will pave the way for an extension of the Rotary Trail, connecting it with the future garden area of the Hospice.
There was also a play area and face painting for children and a barbecue for the racers to recharge after completing their run.
According to Mitchell, the plan is to make the Run for Rose a yearly tradition on this weekend in May. Even before the first run started, organizers were thinking about a second one, Mitchell said.
Fundraising totals will not be known for several weeks.
The organizing committee thanked everyone for coming and supporting the event and major sponsor Prince Albert Source for Sports.
The pair also thanked the many volunteers for the event.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
