www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday September 2, 2006 - 11 Elite to help Run for Hope By Wilma Blokhuis OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF More than 100 runners, some of them elite competitors who have run the Boston Marathon are expected to participate in the inaugural 5KSM Run for Hope on Saturday Sept. 9. Among the runners will be Alex McMillin of Oakville, an Iron Man athlete who has run the Boston Marathon 10 times. Participants will also include eight campers from Kerr Street Ministries (KSM) who have been fitted with new Nike shoes thanks to The Running Company and a private donor. Running with them will be run organizer Caroline Glasbey, a local running enthusiast and volunteer at KSM. Glasbey expects the number of runners to climb to between 120 and 150. Registrations, $30 each, will be accepted up to and including race day between 7 and 8 a.m. The race begins at the corner of Bartos and Prince Charles Drives at 8:30 a.m. Race festivities, and the official kick-off with Mayor Ann Mulvale and Ron Shantz, KSM's Executive Director at 8 a.m., will be at KSM's vacant property at the corner of Kerr Street and Prince Charles Drive. Awards for the top three finishers in all age categories will be presented at 10 a.m. Parking will be at the northeast corner of Oaktown Plaza's parking lot at Speers Road and Kerr Street. Parking marshals will be on site. There will be no parking at Prince Charles Drive. Online registrations at www.onlineregistrations.ca will close on Sept. 6. Registrations will also be accepted in person at the Oakville YMCA, 410 Rebecca, on Sept. 7 from 3:30 6:30 p.m., and Sept. 8 from 5 8 p.m. The 5KSM Run for Hope is a fundraiser for Kerr Street Ministries (KSM), which runs a summer camp for youth. To date, registrations for the five-kilometre run in the Kerr Street area has raised $2,500. "We've raised $10,000 from our sponsors to cover our expenses," said Glasbey. "That means very cent from registration fees and pledges will go to KSM." Proceeds from the race will be used to build a new $2.4 million 18,000 sq.-ft. Dream Centre at KSM's property across the street from its present location. KSM, which opened 10 years ago, has outgrown its present 6,000 sq.-ft. facility at 484 Kerr St. and hopes to expand its drop-in, youth, after school, and counseling programs. "My goal for our first year of this race to raise awareness and I've feel we've been able to do this," said Glasbey. "I've talked to a lot of people who didn't know about KSM and its needs." "I'm overwhelmed by the support I've received from race directors and runners," said Glasbey, who started running about six years ago and competes in halfmarathons (21 kilometres) plus five- and 10-kilometre events. "It's very encouraging." Glasbey is also a KSM volunteer in its adult literacy program. "I'm doing this because I have a passion for running and a passion for KSM so I'm combining my two passions." She is hoping to recruit more runners and volunteers. "We've got about 30 volunteers and we need about a dozen more." They include six camp counselors and four campers. The 5KSM Run for Hope is certified by the Ontario Track and Field Association (OTFA) and will be chip timed using 5K ChampionChip timing by ChipTime Results. Runners will be given ankle bracelets containing a microchip matching their bib numbers. The first 250 runners who register will also receive technical caps made from dry fit fabric. The route will have a one-mile marker "runners like to determine their pace for running a mile" and each kilometre will be marked, said Glasbey. Roads used for the route, including Kerr Street between Stewart and Rebecca streets, will be closed to traffic and marked. "We'll have about 20 people on the course to cheer on the runners and to also make sure they're going the right way." There will also be a one-kilometre run/walk for families with young children starting on Prince Charles Drive at 9:15 a.m., near the festivities area. Registration for the 1K Run/Walk at 9:30 a.m. is free. For information call 905-338-5294, email KSMrunforhope@sympatico.ca or visit www.kerrstreet.com/5ksm. ELT Program Are you an Internationally-trained professional... Looking for work in an office environment... Available afternoons or Saturdays... And assessed at CLB 7 10? Then we have the program for you! We can assist you to enhance your English language skills in both Office Administration and Management skills at no cost. Call (905) 842-2486 ext. 21 to register. #48-635 Fourth Line, Oakville. Citizenship and Immigration Canada Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada