An Abbotsford man has set a goal to run a total of 215 kilometres in memory of the 215 children whose remains were recently found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Jayden Ned, 22, who is from Sema:th (Sumas) First Nation, plans to run at least 10 kilometres each day while raising money for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
Ned, a 2017 graduate of Yale Secondary, began his run Friday (June 4) and, as of Tuesday, had logged almost 50 kilometres and raised almost $3,800.
He was inspired by Brock Fraser, who began the same type of event on Monday, with a goal of running between 15 and 35 kilometres a day, staring and ending at the Kamloops residential school.
Fraser is also raising money for the survivors society.
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Ned has another run planned Wednesday (June 9) at 6:30 p.m. at the Vedder River Rotary Trail in Chilliwack. The public is invited to stop by to support him or join him by running, cycling, walking or drumming.
Ned records each run and where he will be going next on a Facebook page titled “Jayden’s 215km run for the 215 children.” Donations can also be made there.
Ned is also doing the runs in support of his grandmother Donna Villeneuve, who is a survivor of the Kamloops residential school; his grandfather Lester Ned, who is a survivor of St. Mary’s residential school in Mission; his late grandmother Alice (Cindy) Ned (Douglas); and several other relatives who attended residential schools.
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