Rotary Huron Shore Run changes venue due to Covid-19 and succeeds

The Rotary Huron Shore Run like so many other events this year was cancelled.  The event, a major fundraiser for the local Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation and Saugeen Track & Field Club, was not however to be deterred.

The Run that is held every June was about to celebrate its 32nd anniversary when COVID-19 struck, supposedly putting everything on hold.  Rotary however decided to change venues going from ‘real’ to ‘virtual’ and, in May, the committee issued the ‘Beat covid-19 challenge‘, with a 32nd anniversary that will go down in the history books.

Co-chairs of the organizing committee, John and June Van Bastelaar, said that, “The response was amazing.  We also have to thank our many sponsors who simply told us to keep their sponsorship funds despite the event not going ahead in ‘real’ terms.”

The virtual event raised $20,000 for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation.

        (L) Co-chair John Vanbastelaar, Foundation Exec. Dir. Tracy Murray and Co-chair June Vanbastelaar

The event has grown every year and, in 2019, approximately 800 participants came out for the fundraising event.

“The funds raised, that we are so grateful for, will go toward hospital equipment needs that receive no government funding,” says Tracy Murray, Executive Director of the hospital Foundation.

For more on 2020 fundraising efforts and ‘run’ highlights, visit: https://www.facebook.com/rotaryhuronshorerun/