A record turnout bolstered by a generous donation helped turn Sunday's Trek for Cancer Snowshoe Run a record-setting event.
Held at Kivi Park in support of the Northern Cancer Foundation, the event got a boost when Lily Fielding announced she would, from her own pocket, match every donation they received.
Tannys Laughren, the foundations executive director, said the event was already a success, with more than 200 people signing up to strap on the shoes and help fight cancer.
"It was an amazing day,” Laughren said. “We had a great kids run, then we had the 3K, 5.5K and 7.5K. And with Lily Fielding's matching donation, we raised more than $100,000 — on a snowshoe track!"
Her donation helped them reach supporters, who knew whatever they gave would be immediately doubled as a result.
"(Lily Fielding) heard about our event, and we've been working really closely with Kivi Park, and they've been amazing,” Laughren said. “And she said, you know what, whatever they raise, I want to match. So we put that out there and said to people, look, we're really excited about this — and the donations really did come in. It was an impetus for a lot of people to donate."
The event is one of several held each year in Sudbury in support of the fight against cancer. When asked why people show strong support for the events, Laughren said residents want to support events that helps people in their own community.
"I think people have really rallied around their cancer centre,” she said. “They know that every dollar we raised is used locally and stays to support the cancer centre. And I think that's really important to people, to know that their donation is supporting their community."
Plenty of local businesses stepped up to support them as well, and a lot of people just dropped in to make a donation without strapping on the snowshoes. The money they raised, Laughren said, will go to wherever the need is greatest.
"Whether that's equipment or patient care or research, it will probably be allocated along all three of those priorities of the foundation," she said. "The world class research that we have going here, it's always a challenge to find funds for it. We always need new equipment.
“So all that, as well as our patient care funds. Those are our highest used funds right now, money that helps the patients out."
