Every goddess should have a great outfit – preferably a tutu – and a good cause to support. At least that’s the belief of Goddess Run founder Cathy Noel.
In the spirit of that, there will be a few more goddesses raising funds as they strive to reach the finish line, which won’t just be in Langford this year.
Noel announced last week at Frontrunners West Shore that the popular event will include a race in Port Coquitlam this spring. “We have celebrated women locally and now we’re able to expand,” Noel said.
To date more than 11,000 goddesses have crossed the finish line, and “they are all there supporting themselves and each other,” she said.
While an estimated 3,000 participants are expected to flock to Langford in June, at least another 1,000 are expected on the mainland and organizers hope this will be their biggest year yet in terms of participants and funds raised.
With that in mind, the B.C. Cancer Foundation is this year’s charity of choice.
“We are pleased to be the benefitting charity of this year’s Goddess Run,” said Sarah Roth, president and CEO of the B.C. Cancer Foundation in a statement.
“Together with the Goddess community we will help bring the most advance cancer care to patients in Victoria, the Tri-Cities and across the province.”
In its first five years the run raised more than $170,000 for local charities. Funds raised from this year’s Langford-based race will go towards purchasing a PET/CT scanner for the Island.
“We don’t have one on Vancouver Island and last year 1,400 people had to go to Vancouver,” Noel said.
Whether you’re fast or slow, this run is all about supporting participants, local charities and the community. And it seems to draw more people in each year, even those on the sidelines.
Noel pointed to the help of residents in past years that have been out to cheer on runners while providing some relief with sprinklers and water guns when the weather has been on the warmer side.
“We’ll be looking to them again this year as the official spritzer stations,” she added.
Since Noel will be representing the B.C. Liberal party in the upcoming election, some of her Goddess Run duties have been passed on to Langford race director Tami Tate.
“We’re really excited we’re going to expand out,” Tate said, encouraging anyone interested to take a look a the organization’s website, which is featuring a new look and spirit this year.
“We’ve got some fun stuff happening … we’re trying to make it Goddess all year round,” she added.
The Victoria Goddess Run will take place on June 4, starting and finishing at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
The Port Coquitlam Goddess Run is scheduled for June 11, starting and finishing at Hyde Creek Recreation Centre. Both will feature 5K and 10K events.
For more information go to goddessrun.ca.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com