By Brennan Phillips
Special to the Western News
Lakeshore drive along Okanagan Lake was lit up Saturday night for the seventh Annual Santa Rec Run in Penticton.
The event is a fundraiser organized by the Youth Outdoor Recreation Society (YORS) and saw 235 runners raise $2,380 for local schools and youth programs.
Related: Get in step with the holiday season at the Santa Rec Run
“The funds from the registration goes back to the schools that people are running for,“ said Liz Murphy, the fundraising and development coordinator for YORS.
Last year’s run raised around $1,200, with around 100 participants.
In previous years, the run had been done during the day, this year, it was set well after sunset.
“This year we had the idea of lighting up the lakeshore. We wanted to double the money for the schools, double the awareness in the community, and get everybody out here in lighting things up,” said Murphy. “We had a bunch of decorations, large snowmen and candy canes, cut out by Radec Group, and then those were brought to schools to be decorated. Their dressed up, lit up with lights, so that they’re illuminating the race as they go.”
There were three options available; the first was a one kilometre distance, from the parking lot of LocoLanding to the Lakeside Resort, where a station had been set up with hot beverages, and then back again. The second, a five km run, added a second stop at Hoodoo Adventures with beverages; and the third was two trips back and forth.
There were prizes donated for the runners who finished their distances first, as well as hotdogs and hot chocolate waiting for everyone at the finish line. The best dressed snowman and decorated candy cane also won a prize for the participating schools.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
<>@PentictonNews
newstips@pentictonwesternnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.