This year’s Red Deer PCN Women’s Fun Run was the biggest one yet, says race director Val Jensen.
“When I started this eight years ago, I wanted to see women and little girls more active. I have a big love of seeing kids active,” Jensen said Saturday at the Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School track.
“I want to see little girls realize at a young age that it’s fun to run … so I want them to say, ‘Mommy, mommy, I want to run more. When can we go to the next one?’ That’s really the goal.”
More than 1,200 people participated in the eighth annual event, which raises money for The Mustard Seed’s school lunch program.
A new event, the Community Diaper Dash, was introduced at this year’s fun run. The dash featured people wearing diapers, racing across the track while putting together a lunch at multiple stations.
Kathy Taylor, who ran in the Community Diaper Dash, raised more than $5,000 in just two weeks leading up to the event. She said the dash was an “incredible” experience.
“I always live outside of my comfort zone, to be honest,” said Taylor, owner of Totally Refreshed Steam and Spa in Red Deer.
“Reaching $5,000 was awesome, and I’m super proud of our team, our clients and everyone in our community who donated to the cause.”
Taylor crossed the finish line first, but didn’t completely follow the rules, so she didn’t take home the top prize.
“They told us to put the sandwich in a bag, and we had to put that bag into another bag, but I missed that. That’s my responsibility. I take ownership. But that’s OK. It was an incredible race and tons of fun.”
The goal was to raise money for a great cause, she added.
“The Mustard Seed does so much, and the best part of this experience was seeing how much they do for our community and how blessed we are to have them,” said Taylor.
Taylor said she wants to raise $10,000 for next year’s Community Diaper Dash.
Jensen said the event wouldn’t be possible without help from 300-plus volunteers.
“I’m a really small piece of this – it really is the community (that) came together to support our kids,” Jensen said.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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