The Cochrane Lions Rodeo weekend just keeps getting bigger and better. This year’s Sunday festivities will start off with a fun, family-friendly twist: a charity run with a Disney theme, all for a great cause.
On August 31, runners and walkers will lace up at the Cochrane Lions Event Centre for the first-ever Just Run Mom Charity Run. Organized by Cochrane’s own Candice Lee, the event raises money for Make-A-Wish kids in Southern Alberta. Lee, a volunteer with Women for Wishes, has set a goal of $10,000 to help grant magical experiences for local children.
“I just have a really soft spot for Make-A-Wish and for these kids,” she said. “Some will live with illness their whole life, and others are in palliative care.”
Participants can choose between a 1k walk/run or a 5k run, and costumes are highly encouraged. Why? Because this year’s theme is all about Disney.
“In Canada, 90 per cent of wishes are for a trip to Disney,” Lee shared. “It costs about $10,000 to send a child. Being able to give them and their families an unforgettable experience is such a beautiful cause to support and since I’m a big Disney fan myself, the theme felt like a perfect fit.”
This is Lee’s second year fundraising. Last year, she nearly hit her $10,000 target after taking part in Disneyland’s 2024 Halloween Half Marathon.
“I think I raised around $8,900,” she said. “I campaigned solo-- posting videos of myself running around Cochrane and Calgary in my Minnie Mouse cap, just trying to get the word out.”
So far this year, Lee’s campaign has already raised $5,400, with $380 coming from early registrations for the run.
“With the generous help of the Cochrane Lions Club, our event has very little overhead, which means almost all the registration fees go straight to Make-A-Wish,” Lee explained.
Those interested in joining the run can register online at: Just Run Mom Charity Run
