In the midst of COVID, Vernon’s Oliver Stankiewicz ran 101 kilometres in 24 hours on the Okanagan Rail Trail on Mother’s Day 2021 in memory of his mom, Laura Jean, who died of cancer at age 59 in 2020.
In the process, the Vernon businessman raised more than $30,000 for the McMurtry-Baerg Cancer Clinic at Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH).
This year, Stankiewicz would love to have company on his Mother’s Day run, which he calls Move4Mom, and is opening the event up to relay teams.
The run will take place live at Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park Sunday, May 8, starting at 8 a.m., or you can participate from anywhere in the world virtually.
Runners, walkers or hikers of any level can sign up for any distance, as an individual, with a team or with a mom and participate in support of the McMurtry-Baerg Cancer Centre and VJH Foundation.
Bannister GM Vernon has pledged to donate $10 for every kilometre run/walked for registrants of the event, up to $10,000.
Registration for the event closes at 11:59 p.m. May 6, 2022.
“I wanted to shift the narrative about specifically my family’s story in regards to losing my mom to cancer and put the focus on cancer as a whole,” said Stankiewicz, who will again go 24 hours. “Almost everyone is affected by cancer in one way or another and I want people to focus on the good, the positive and the endurance that battling cancer must take.
“Shifting to the positive outlook and the required support that an individual needs to get through the diagnoses, treatments and for those in remission, rather than the constant reminder of what could be right around the corner. It takes strength, bravery and focus to get through cancer and that is why this year’s run encompasses an ‘endurance relay’ approach. I want to push myself, and that is why I will be going the full 24 hours to log as many kilometres as possible for the Bannister GM pledge.”
Move4Mom is designed to collectively accumulate as many kilometres as possible on the day of the event, to raise money for the cancer center at VJH. Join up as a team or individually, in one of the main event categories, and choose a goal distance to accomplish – five, 10, 21, 42, 50 and 100 kilometre – distances will set your sights on a goal that will push your team to a challenging day.
The goal for this event is to provide resources and funding to help support individuals and families that are directly affected by cancer and cancer treatment.
You can register, donate or find out more information about Move4Mom by going to themovementrun.com.
READ MORE: Vernon ‘son’ run raises $30,000 for cancer centre in memory of mom
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roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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