The seventh annual Skip’s Charity Run, sponsored by the Ashcroft and District Lions Club, took place under sunny skies on Sunday, June 4. A total of 66 runners, walkers, and bike riders took part over three different courses: 2.5km, 5lm, and 10km.
The run started in 2011 after the death of Skip Stuart, a long-time member of the Lions Club. Betty Ann Richards, a former long-time member of the club, said that after Stuart’s death the club wanted to honour him in some way. Keith McAra suggested a run, and Richards says that the first run was so successful it “blew us away”.
“Then Keith passed away,” says Richards, “and we knew we had to keep doing this.” She and her husband Wayne, who now live in Trail, were on hand on Sunday to assist with the registration.
The participants gathered in front of the Ashcroft HUB—the start and finish point for this year’s run—and got ready for the run while listening to music provided by DJ (and run participant) Tom Moe’s Rolling Thunder Revue. Vicky Trill thanked Moe for the music, and noted that the Cache Creek and Ashcroft fire departments had firefighting vehicles along the route to provide a cooling spray for the participants. Trill said that recent weeks have been difficult for both departments, and thanked them for being there for the run.
“It’s been a difficult time for them, and then they show up today for this event. They’re the real heroes in our communities.” She added that Stuart’s son had called to say thank you for honouring his father, and noted the great things that the Lions do for our communities, pointing out the two AED units at the HUB, which were provided by the Lions Club.
In addition to Betty Ann and Wayne Richards and Tom Moe, the Lions want to thank Colin Williams, Vicky Trill and the Desert Hill Tri Club, Merv McKague, and timekeeper Wayne Little.
