STITTSVILLE - The final tally is in -
$16,911.10.
This is the amount raised by
the first annual Emergency Services’ Run or 9 RUN RUN event which was held in
Stittsville on Saturday, Oct. 23.
A donation for $16,911.10 was
formally presented to Project s.t.e.p. at Ottawa
city hall on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Project s.t.e.p. is a drug awareness, education
and treatment program that has been launched in the city of Ottawa.
Those at the cheque
presentation ceremony included city of Ottawa
police chief Vern White, who has been a strong advocate for the s.t.e.p.
project, city of Ottawa Stittsville
ward councillor Shad Qadri and 9 RUN RUN race director Brenda Tirrell.
A total of 885 participants
took part in this inaugural Emergency Services Run in Stittsville – 565 in the
half marathon and 320 in the 3K Family Fun Run/Walk.
There were over 140
volunteers who helped make the event such a success.
Organizers had initially
hoped to raise $10,000 with this inaugural event but the final total far
exceeded this, meaning more funds for Project s.t.e.p.
It was councillor Qadri who
was the originator of this event. After he spoke with police chief White about
running, Project s.t.e.p. and the chief’s goal to run a dozen half marathons
this year, the councillor suggested having such an event in Stittsville.
But councillor Qadri is quick
to attribute the success of the event to the work of race director Brenda
Tirrell and her team of volunteers.
“Boy, did she do a bang up
job with her team and volunteers in the community,” councillor Qadri said while
reporting on the success of the 9 RUN RUN event at the Stittsville Village
Association’s executive meeting on Thursday, Nov. 11.
He cited the over 850
participants in the event and made particular note of the chili cookoff event
which was held featuring the efforts of the chiefs of the three emergency
services involved – police, fire and paramedics.
“Most importantly,
Stittsville gets another notch on the city map,” councillor Qadri said in
noting that the event’s success bodes well for the community’s reputation in
the city.
He said that if a 10K run is
included on the program next year, there is a possibility that the number of
participants will double since a 10K run is a popular companion event to a half
marathon run.
He also noted that the Trans
Canada Trail, which formed part of the half marathon route, gained a lot of
comments from the participants.
And while the event was set
up as a fundraiser for Project s.t.e.p., the event also showed that those
involved with the city’s three emergency services not only protect a community
like Stittsville but also are part of it.
“What a great way for our
community to display the three emergency services,” councillor Qadri said.