By Kathy Gallant

Prep for 10th annual PACE Race coming along

Jul 31, 2018 | 2:00 PM

It’s been a decade since the first charity road race for Meadow Lake’s People Advocating for Children with Exceptionalities (PACE). While the event is over a month away, preparation for Setting the PACE Race is top of mind these days for the group.

Bluesette Campbell, director of the race said organizing the day is an all-year process, but things start to pick up during the summer to prepare for the Sept. 8 event which takes place at the Meadow Lake Provincial Park. The registration deadline is Aug. 15, which guarantees participants with their size of race shirt, but people can sign up to bike 100k, bike or run full or half marathons, or participate in 10, five or three-kilometre long races. The monies raised fund the various activities and program the group holds throughout the year, including speakers and social group activities.

This year’s event will feature local entertainers, including fiddling PACE member Bennett Honeyford and his father Matthew Grupp. Another new addition is permanent signage, thanks to a new sponsorship deal with Kelly Graphics. Campbell said in other years, volunteers have created makeshift signs so this is a welcome development.

“It’s kind of a big investment for us,” Campbell said. “We’ve had to make new signs every year, so this will actually save a lot of time. They’re all the mileage markers, shuttle, parking, they’ll be made out of an aluminum composite sign so we can use them for at least the next decade.”

She said the group anticipates having a few more registrations, given the anniversary and the fact it is a long-standing event in the area.

Meadow Lake arena and recreation facility

Innovation Federal Credit Union donates up to $1-million in community match

53m ago

Weekend hockey

PAGC set to host largest Senator's Cup tournament to date

2h ago

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

5h ago

Campbell said she, and the other PACE volunteers are highly anticipating this year’s event. She said although it’s a lot of work, nothing beats the magic of what race day represents.

“It’s so rewarding,” she said. “I can’t describe the feeling at the finish line. There’s so much happiness, success and a feeling of accomplishment. It gives you a glimpse into a 100 per cent completely inclusive world for a day. Everyone can drop their concern about finding housing, employment, and concerns for their son or daughter. It just gets us closer to our mission of creating an inclusive community.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath