There’s still time to show your support for the organization that offers so much help to our country’s military personnel.
Loops for the Troops is a road race taking place on the first Sunday of June. It has been running for a few years now and works to rally the community together in a huge show of unity. It also serves as a major benefit for the Military Family Resource Centre (also known as the MFRC) at CFB Edmonton.
Jennifer Gyuricska, the senior communications co-ordinator at the MFRC, explained that it was developed through a partnership with the family of a local fallen soldier, Cpl. Bryce Keller M.M.V., who fell in Afghanistan. His wife, Sarah Keller, and her mother, Lois Dvorsky, are the race co-directors.
“They came forward and they wanted to put this on to raise funds for the Military Family Resource Centre,” she said.
The centre proved to be an invaluable friend for Keller’s family in their time of grieving. The centre, however, has many other programs to help military families.
“The MFRC offers different family and parenting supports including child care. We have a day care on site. We offer deployment support, short term counseling with our prevention support and intervention group. We also have some unique services on site including a playschool and Terrific Twos program for children. We offer a Navigator program for families with disabilities.”
Loops is all about the public giving back to the MFRC. Last year there were more than 400 participants in the event, always held at CFB Edmonton. That event raised approximately $20,000 for the organization.
This year, there’s even one team that is 40-plus strong. There are always different distances for different participants of all athletic and competitive levels.
“The five-km tends to be a bit like the fun run and walk. We also do have a 10-km and a half marathon and those are definitely more competitive.”
People can register online at www.runningroom.com. Each distance has a different start time and a different entrance fee, including an option to register as a team.
For more information, please visit www.familyforce.ca/sites/edmonton. Direct pledges can be made on that website.
