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Take up the team challenge at this year’s Run For Mom

It’s almost time to lace up the running shoes for Chilliwack’s annual Run For Mom.
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Participants register for last year’s Run For Mom. This year’s event is May 11 and organizers are hoping for a little good-natured inter-team rivalry.

It’s almost time to lace up the running shoes for Chilliwack’s annual Run For Mom.

But before the warm ups start and the final stretching begins, organizers are wondering if participants would like to, “make things a little more interesting.”

They’ve launched a team challenge and they’re inviting local businesses, friends and families to toss down the gauntlet and see who can raise the most for Chilliwack General Hospital’s maternity unit.

The prize? Immortality on the Run For Mom team trophy, the satisfaction of helping CGH help women and children, and, of course, bragging rights.

Now in its 16th year, the Run For Mom has raised more than a quarter million dollars – money that’s been used to purchase equipment for the maternity unit at Chilliwack General Hospital.

It’s serious stuff – equipment that makes a real difference in the care and comfort of newborn infants and their moms.

But that doesn’t mean participants can’t have a little fun helping out.

Each year the Mother’s Day event draws hundreds of people. Some compete in the chip-timed 8k road race, others opt for the 5k walk/run. There’s entertainment, food, and flowers for all the moms who take part.

The route takes participants westbound on Keith Wilson Road, before returning along the Vedder Trail to the starting point at UFV’s Trades and Technology building. Water stations are along the way, and a small army of volunteers help to keep things safe.

It’s a family event, organized by volunteers with the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation.

Over the past 16 years, local school groups have played a big part in the run. So far this year, five schools have registered, with students vying for the top school team trophy. Bernard elementary, Unsworth, Cultus Lake, Greendale and GW Graham middle-secondary are all taking part.

The number of teams is also growing. So far there will be at least eight teams at the starting gate: the Ascend Fitness Rock Stars, Damsels in Delight, the Stream Dream Team, the Relybles, Soroptimists, Envision, Chilliwack Society for Community Living, and the CGH Mat Pack.

Run organizers are hoping more will take up the challenge. To participate, simply get a group of co-workers, friends and family together, pick a “family-friendly” team name, register, and start collecting pledges.

Trash talkin’ your rivals is optional.

Even if you don’t have a team, there’s still a chance at personal glory – and swag.

Raise more than $750 and you’ll have a chance to win two WestJet tickets to anywhere the airline flies.

Raise less than that and there’s still a chance to win a series of prize packages.

But the best prize is knowing you’ve helped women and kids at Chilliwack Hospital, says Jessica Bolt of the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation.

This year the foundation is raising money for a pain relief system that expectant mothers can use themselves. The goal is to purchase three “Enotonox Systems” which allow the safe and timely administration of a nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture.  Each unit costs about $6,000.

This year’s run is Sunday, May 11 at 9:30 a.m. The start is at UFV’s Trades and Technology Centre, 5579 Tyson Road (Tyson and Keith Wilson).

To register, phone 604.701.4051, email jessica@fvhcf.org, or register online at run4mom.kintera.org.