Numbers off at AIMS run

Melissa Strle
Times Reporter

 

Advocacy in Motion Society (AIMS) held its 7th annual Chinook Financial Tight & Bright Family Fun Run in Strathmore on Aug. 20 at the Kinsmen Park.
The run featured something for everyone, as participants were able to sign up for either the 10K run, the 2K run/walk or the 5K run/walk.
According to Beverly Roppel, AIMS program manager, despite lower participant numbers than last year, the run went very well.
“The people who did participate really enjoyed the time, even though it wasn’t as good a turnout as we wanted it to be,” she said.
She cited other events that were going on over the same weekend as a possible reason for decreased numbers. She also said because it was the first nice weekend in a very long time, this may have contributed to decreased numbers.
Roppel said they would like to build the event and may look into changing the date of the run next year. She noted that it’s important to choose the right weekend for the event to be successful.
The AIMS Society was aided for this event by many volunteers and sponsors.
“We can’t even say enough good things about the businesses around Strathmore,” she said. “They have been fantastic for us and the volunteers were great.”
Roppel wanted to give a special thank you to Melissa Schayes for spearheading the event this year and doing a fantastic job. She also wanted to give a special thank you to Chinook Financial as the major sponsor of this event.
AIMS is a program that assists adults with disabilities find meaningful employment and community connections in the Strathmore area. They also have programs that assist people in finding a place to live and provide aid through respite on the weekends.
This fall, AIMS will focus on ensuring the programs are running smoothly and that everyone is back on track after the summer.