If you happened to see runners or walkers dressed in green last month in Quesnel, they were likely participating in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Pace and Pint.
All 125 race bibs were worn for this year’s virtual five-kilometer fun walk or run, which raised more than $2,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Quesnel (BBBS).
From Saturday, March 12 to Thursday, March 17, participants of all ages selected a location to support BBBS before heading to Barkerville Brewing Company to receive a finisher pint glass and one race pint or non-alcoholic beverage.
“It was kind of neat seeing people on different days,” said Candace Miller with Reason 2 Run.
“It doesn’t compare to doing it all at once, but it certainly gave people the option, oh, today is a bad weather day, let’s do it tomorrow.”
Last month marked the eighth year for the fundraiser, which was initially launched to support the Canadian Cancer Society in Quesnel after Miller said some of their friends were diagnosed with cancer.
Since then, fundraiser recipients have varied each year.
“We just kind of pick what is forefront in our mind and things that are happening, and I know that Big Brothers and Big Sisters were planning an event in the fall and it got cancelled,” Miller said.
“It’s also been on my mind before that…and my husband’s mother, I found out, helped start BBBS when she lived here.”
BBBS executive director Joanie Newman was thrilled to receive the funds totaling $2,123.70 on Tuesday, April 5, from Miller and Barkerville Brewing Company taproom manager Ksenya Dorwart.
Newman said now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted the not-for-profit organization wants to try and keep doing more group activities such as swimming and bowling.
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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: rebecca.dyok@quesnelobserver.com
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