Cochranites should get their minds and bodies in peak condition and ready for the first annual Capital One Race for Kids Cochrane.
The event will be running across Canada on June 1 and will see teams of four battling it out over a variety of games and challenges. All in an effort to raise funds for Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC) nationwide.
“The Capital One Race for Kids is a not-to-be-missed, fun community event — unlike any other we’re going to see in Cochrane this year,” said Jenny Strickland, office manager of the local BGC, during a Feb. 22 press conference.
“Grown ups will have the opportunity to have fun and play games like a kid, so we can, in turn, support programs for children and youth in our community.”
The teams will compete against each other — clad in team costumes — racing to 10 checkpoints set throughout the course. Each stop will boast a challenge of some variety, said Strickland, like finishing a puzzle, or diving through popcorn to find hidden objects.
After the 10 checkpoints have been completed, participants will be off to the finish line — where there will be one final challenge. Strickland didn’t give away any clues to what the final battle will be.
Helping the local BGC launch the event was Cochrane-native and Calgary Stampeders player Rob Cote.
“I was in and out of this facility a little bit and I’m a big supporter what the (BGC) is doing here,” said the 2008 Grey Cup winner. “Cochrane is a good town, with so many good people.”
As for whether he’ll be able to participate in the race, Cote said he remains unsure: Stamps training begins around race time.
The event will be running in 22 different communities across the country. Although 2012 was the pilot year for the initiative, this is the first time the Race for Kids has come to Cochrane.
Last year, Capital One Race for Kids raised more than $1 million.
The Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area are hoping to raise $40,000. All the money that is raised in Cochrane will stay in the community and used for programming, said Dylan Oosterveld, executive director of the local BGC branch.
“The money raised from the event will go towards our after-school care subsidy programs,” he said. “… That will help more kids access more programs if they need to. Also, we’ll be putting it towards our emerging learning and development programs, which is a new focus for us. We have a number of new programs around to help youth stay engaged in school.
“(This money) will go a long way to help those kids.”
To find out more about Capital One Race for Kids or to register your team, visit raceforkids.ca.
Federal donation
The proceeds from the Race for Kids will come on the heels of a $25,089 donation from the Harper Government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund to the Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area.
The fund is part of the federal government’s Economic Action Plan 2012.
Announced on Feb. 20 by MP Blake Richards, the donation supports renovations and repairs to the more than 10-year-old facility that accommodates the children and youth that participate in the organization’s programs.
“The kids depend on the centre to be a safe space, where they can be with their friends and be themselves,” said Oosterveld. “We want to create a space the kids will like and take care of.”
He said the flooring and lighting in the building will be renovated with the money, along with some basic maintenance and repair. The cash will also go a long way to pay off some of the already completed updates to the building.
“The work they do here supports children, parents and families,” said Richards. “Communities like Cochrane are really all about family.”
