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Plenty of reasons to ‘Run For Mom’ this weekend

Participants in this weekend’s Run For Mom have an additional incentive as they raise money for Chilliwack General Hospital.
The 2013 Run For Mom takes place this Sunday. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS FILE
The 2013 Run For Mom takes place this Sunday.


Participants in this weekend’s Run For Mom have an additional incentive as they raise money for Chilliwack General Hospital’s maternity department.

For every dollar raised, the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation will match the donation.

“We are pleased to be in a position to match donations dollar-for-dollar, to a maximum total of $15,000,” said Vicki Raw, FVHCF executive director. “This unique program is the result of a generous estate gift that was left to our Foundation in support of Chilliwack General Hospital.”

Organizers hope that Chilliwack and area runners and walkers will use the last few days before Sunday’s event to collect as many pledges as they can, since each dollar raised means two dollars towards women’s and children’s programs at CGH.

The annual Run for Mom, held each Mother’s Day, is celebrating its 15th year of raising money for Chilliwack hospital. The popular event offers a chip-timed 8k course, as well as a 5k course for runners and walkers, and a 1k run for children.

The run has generated $350,000 for the foundation, which uses the money to purchase medical equipment specifically for the maternity department at CGH.

This year organizers hope to purchase a fetal heart monitor, which carries a price tag of about $26,000.

There are several other incentives to help race participants raise funds for the hospital.

The earned incentive program awards an insulated lunch bag for anyone who raises $100 in pledges, a vinyl-backed fleece picnic blanket for $250, and a First Aid kit at the $500 level. If you raise $750 or more in pledges, your name will be entered into a draw for a WestJet flight voucher for two.

The top three individual fundraisers are also awarded with prize packages valued at $360, $200 and $125 respectively, including a touring bicycle donated by Canadian Tire and treatments by Undine’s Retreat, Pure Mobile Massage and Optimum Sport Performance & Health Centre.

The bonus program, which awards an extra gift drawn from names of those who collect $100 or more, has been expanded to 15 Bonus Prizes, in honour of the 15 years of the event. Each prize is worth $75-$100, and each includes a $25 gift card to Frankie’s Italian Kitchen.

There are even trophies for the top fundraising school, a trophy for the top corporate team, and plaques for the top three fundraising corporate teams.

But just taking part offers its own rewards. For years, Minter Country Garden has donated potted flowers for all the moms in attendance.  This year is no different, with 350 pots arriving Sunday morning.

Chilliwack and area businesses and service clubs have been their usual generous selves, giving enough gift cards, baskets, prizes to allow organizers to offer over 100 random draw prizes for participants and volunteers.

Participant race kits will include a $10 coupon for UrbanEndo Runners, and a $100 coupon towards services at Ascend Fitness. For each coupon redeemed, Ascend Fitness will donate $150 to the Envision Run for Mom. Urban Endo Runners is also donating 10 per cent of sales on Saturday, May 11 to the event.

The start and finish for the event is at UFV’s Trades and Technology building at Tyson and Keith Wilson roads. The route heads out along Keith Wilson before returning along the Rotary Vedder Trail.

Race time is 10 a.m. Get there early to register, or register online at http://run4mom.kintera.org