It’s being held on the Sunday of a long weekend, Aug. 15, but Francis McClements hopes Whitehorse’s 1st Annual Freedom Walk for Diabetes will help bring a cure quicker.
“I would have picked a different week than a long weekend,” says the “freedom champion” (as organizers are called across Canada). “But I heard that one person is up $70 in pledges after just three days.
“I was really happy about that.”
McClements, the local manager of The Cash Store, which is leading this charity event nationally, emphasized that it is not a matter of “if” a cure for diabetes is found, it is “when”.
Money will be going to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation, which does much of the research in Canada. But money will also go to help those who cannot afford insulin.
“Freedom Walk” is an appropriate name, since insulin needs to be refrigerated and, “How do diabetics go camping?” asks McClements. “I love camping.”
Runners and walkers are asked to be at Shipyards Park, alongside the Millennium Trail, between 9 and 9:30 a.m., on Sunday, Aug. 15. There will be a warm-up session after registration.
At 10 a.m., participants will head toward Rotary Peace Park and turn around at the 1.5- and 2.5-kilometre mark to return for a total of three and five kilometres each.
Registration is $30 before the day of the walk, and $45 on the day of the walk. With $100 in pledges, the participant earns a water bottle. With $150 in pledges, the registration fee is waived.
More information is available at www.thefreedomrun.ca or e-mailing[email protected].
