Registration is open for the 2021 Run for Southlake, which continues to be a different event during the COVID-19 pandemic, but aims to raise at least $175,000 toward much needed medical equipment at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.
Instead of being a five-kilometre run on a single day, the annual fundraiser will be a four-week long event starting April 12 and ending on Mothers Day, May 9.
"It's going to be a virtual event this year," Aimme Houston, director of communications for Southlake Foundation, said.
"People can sign up now ... and we will have weekly challenges for people. But the nice thing is that people can set their own goals and do what they want. Running is what we are giving as a suggestion, but people can also walk, skip, ride their exercise bike or use their treadmill."
"We want to be inclusive about what people do to reach their goal and get some fresh air while also supporting their local hospital."
The four weekly challenges will be
- Week 1 - Eat well with Southlake: gear up this spring by focusing on your nutrition. Hear from professionals at Nature's Emporium about foods that fuel you. Set your own nutrition goal for the week.
- Week 2 - Make it a habit with Southlake: Keeping your nutrition goals in mind, focus on how and how often you want to move this week. Work on your long-term health by making fitness a consistent part of your routine.
- Week 3 - Build your endurance with Southlake: This week is all about endurance. Decide how long you want to move each time you get active. Is it 5 minutes a few times a day? Or one 30-minute workout class? Set goals based on what fits your schedule best.
- Week 4 - Go the distance with Southlake: You are in the home stretch! Want to run a marathon this week? Bike 10 km in 30 minutes? Jump rope around the block? Set any personal distance goal. Decide how far you want to go for Southlake.
Participants can register and make a profile on the event's website, which will track their progress on their exercise and fundraising goals and awarding badges for those who complete them.
People will also be able to join teams on the website to take part in special team challenges.
"We will also have some social media challenges along the way where people will be able to win prizes from Nature's Emporium, which is the main sponsor for the event," Houston said.
