When Chilliwack runners lace up for the Around the Lake Give'R Take 30 trail race, they aren't just undertaking a gruelling test of athleticism.
They're also contributing back to the outdoor community that care for the very trails they're running on.
Last year, the race drew in 325 runners who took part in either the solo or relay runs around the lake. That race, held Oct. 19, raised $11,000, said Brad Driscoll from the Around the Lake Give’R Take Trail Race Society. As the society gears up for this year's event, planned for Oct. 18, they are highlighting the good work the race itself helps out with.
This year alone, the society has been able to give $2,000 for two Chilliwack School District scholarships, $3,000 to the Fraser Valley Mountain Bike Association for a trail sponsorship, $3,000 to the Chilliwack Park Society, and $1,000 each to the Vedder Mountain Motorcycle Club, the Chilliwack Outdoor Club and the Chilliwack Search and Rescue.
All of these organizations support outdoor recreation and student success, Driscoll noted.
"These contributions reflect the society’s ongoing mission to invest in the land, trails, and youth that make this region an exceptional place to live, learn, and explore," Driscoll said. "Since its inception in 2003, the Around the Lake Trail Race Society has given back roughly $120,000 to the local Chilliwack Community."
The 2024 Around the Lake Give’R Take was held during "torrential rains" and an atmospheric river, he said. Nearly 100mm of rain fell that day.
Runners who travelled the 30 kilometres around Cultus Lake, either solo or as part of a relay, faced slippery trails, swollen streams, and some knee-deep puddles. Despite the conditions, participants pushed through, showing remarkable grit. Top male finisher Ian Backstrom completed the race in 2:28:32, while top female finisher Kalyn Head finished in 2:45:14, breaking her own 2023 record.
There is also now a Give'R Take 1.5-kilometre Kids' Trail Race, which brought out several younger trail runners.
The event was founded by Clarence Wiens.
Registration for the Oct. 18, 2025 event open June 18. In the meantime, the society is also open to sponsorship partnerships.
