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Walking, Running and Playing for the Strength Behind the Uniform
By Kym Wolfe, London MFRC
The London Military Family Resource Centre launched our Military Families: Strength Behind the Uniform awareness campaign this year, culminating in a fundraising walk/run and family day in Springbank Park. On September 26, 2009, we were thrilled to have more than 400 people come out and fill the park with red shirts.
The event merged three ideas. First, we were looking for a unique and attention-grabbing way to promote the concept of Military Families: Strength Behind the Uniform. Our Board of Directors also wanted to create a signature fundraising event for our centre. And finally, we were brainstorming ideas for our annual welcome barbecue for our families, which is traditionally held in late September.
Throw all three ideas into the mix and you get…the first annual Strength Behind the Uniform Charity Walk/Run and Family Day! Participants ran the gamut, including serious runners who wanted to be timed as they ran the five or eight kilometre route, soldiers with their rucksacks, members of the Dutch Canadian Club in full costume, and military families with young children who came out to enjoy the community celebration. We even had the Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Units club provide an honour guard for the event.
After walking and running on paths that wound through the scenic park and along the Thames River, participants were treated to a barbecue, face painters, a reptile demonstration with snakes and other creatures, plus a visit to Story Book Gardens. It was a truly wonderful day and, based on feedback and the thousands of dollars we raised, one we hope will become an annual autumn tradition.
