T.S. Giilck
Anyone planning on attending the 20th anniversary of the Meaford Harbour Run/Walk might be forgiven if they wanted to let it slide instead. Thanks to a little serendipity, this year’s anniversary event on July 9 coincides with the first Urban Slide Day organized by 365 Sports. That happy coincidence has the two organizations partnering up for the day to make it fun for everyone.
“Since the Urban Slide is happening on the same day we are working closely with them to make the day beneficial to all,” stated a media release from the Harbour Walk/Run organizers. “The Urban Slide (365 Sports) has made us their charity of choice for their event. We are trying to encourage people to do the Run/Walk first and then go over to the Slide Ride to cool off and have some fun.”
Michael Lambert of 365 Sports said, “We thought it was a perfect way to partner.”
“We pick a charity of choice for our local communities,” he explained. “We wanted to raise awareness for people to come out and walk and run and then do the slide, and raise money for the hospital in the process. We’re thinking that people will do the walk/run then come over to the slide to cool off.”
Lambert praised the event for the more than $300,000 it’s raised over the years, since it succeeded its predecessor, the Meaford Apple Road Race.
“It’s really started to take off in the last 10 years,” said organizer David Glass. “We’re looking forward to this partnership enhancing it even more.”
This might be a one-time partnership, Lambert added, since it’s a happy coincidence that the dates of the two events matched up.
Glass said that once the run/walk team noted the date, it was a natural to approach 365 Sports with the idea of joining forces. “We think there’s a lot of the same demographic that it will appeal to,” Glass added.
The two groups met at the Meaford Hospital on April 5 prior to a Meaford Hospital Foundation Board meeting to pose for a photo and quickly discuss the joint effort.
Brian Renken, the board past-president, is also the organizer of the run/walk road race. He was very positive about the collaborative effort to market the events. One of the things he stressed is encouraging people to sign up early for the road race. An enticement is the chance to win a “Fitbit” device.
