By Andrea Nicholl
A group of Lloydminster residents will soon lace up to walk, run and sprint for brain tumor research.
The national Spring Sprint 2010 will be held in Lloydminster on May 30 at Bud Miller Park, raising money and awareness for the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada.
“The purpose of the Spring Sprint is to bring awareness to the Brain Tumor Foundation and what it entails, but also to give people support,” said sprint coordinator Jaclyn Bexson. “In previous years we’ve had survivors meet each other and it helps them realize ‘it’s not just me.’”
Last year, the national campaign raised over $1.4 million for research, support services and public education. While there is no chapter established in the Border City, Bexson says support continues to grow each year.
“Each year we work on community awareness to get the word out, although the support and turnout we are currently receiving is great,” she said of the third annual Sprint.
The local event raised over $12,000 last year to help provide education, information and support to the estimated 55,000 Canadians affected by the neurological disorder.
All money raised will directly support brain tumor patients and research into the cause and a cure. There is no registration fee for the sprint, though participants are asked to raise a minimum of $40 to cover the costs of event coordination and operation.
“Even if you are supporting Relay for Life, this is just one more way to support the people who are fighting cancer and those families that are battling it with them.”
Registration for Spring Sprint 2010 is at 10 a.m. at the Bud Miller picnic shelter. The five kilometre ‘sprint’ will begin at 11 a.m. Event is rain or shine.