Hundreds of participants donned their most-festive workout gear and braved the brisk weather Sunday for the eighth annual Great Pumpkin Run Walk.
More than $80,000 was raised for Peace Arch Hospital by 1,200 people who ran or walked the five-km or one-km routes.
This year’s top youth fundraiser was 11-year-old Logan Watson and the top adult fundraiser was Fred Kikhosrowkiany from the Centre for Active Living. Top fundraising teams were White Rock Optometry ($15,911) and the Peace Arch Hospital Cardiac Rehab team ($4,485).
The top male runner on the five-km route was Evan Durrant, whose father, Rob, won in previous years and this year came in second.he top female runner for the same route was Charlene Janzen.
Dan Demontreuil was the top cardiac-rehab patient participant and eight-year-old Markus Stones was the first youth to cross the finish line on the one-km route.
Dozens of volunteers – including hospital employees, business people, service club members and high school students – came together to organize the event, which was once again hosted by Global TV meteorologist Kristi Gordon, who was born at Peace Arch Hospital.
Since its inception, the Great Pumpkin Run Walk has brought in more than $350,000 for priority medical equipment and site upgrades for the hospital.
“I am always so inspired by how our community comes together at this fun annual event,” said Stephanie Beck, director of development at Peace Arch Hospital & Community Health Foundation, in a news release issued Monday. “All of us share a passion for Peace Arch Hospital and keeping quality health care close to home. We are so appreciative to everyone who takes part, year after year, including the sponsors, the local businesses that set up in our fairgrounds, and the participants who walk, run and fundraise.”