THUNDER BAY - Little Avery Puksa is only three-years-old, but with a little help from dad, she joined other runners and finished her lap around the track in support of children’s mental health.
“She did really well and I’m proud of her and so is mom,” said Andrew Puksa.
Runners once again took to the track for the 9th Annual Indoor Marathon at the Lakehead University Hangar on Sunday in support of the Children’s Centre Foundation Thunder Bay.
This year, more than 150 runners participated in a full-marathon, a half-marathon, a 10K run, a 10K walk, and a marathon team relay.
“I think we have a great running community in the city who are very supportive of one another and it really highlights the importance of physical activity and promoting better mental health,” said Alana Bencharski, Children’s Centre Foundation coordinator.
Bencharski added the marathon this year is expected to raise more than $10,000, which will go toward public education programming and preventative initiatives for children’s mental health.
John Friday, vice president of the Children’s Centre Foundation, and runner himself, was out on the track on Sunday participating in the half-marathon.
“It was fun,” he said. “It was 105 laps and it’s always a great event. Usually I do the full marathon, but I’ve been a little challenged with injuries so I decided to do the half. It looks a lot different if you only have to do the half and it feels a lot better at the end.”
Friday and Bencharski said the cold temperatures outside this winter has led to more runners coming out to participate in the Indoor Marathon, where the weather is always perfect.
“The frigid temperatures have definitely helped us out,” Bencharski said. “We always seen an influx during the weeks it is the coldest for registrations. They really take advantage of coming indoors where the temperature is perfect.”
And while runners enjoy the challenge of completing the full or half marathons, the annual event is about more than sport.
“Children’s Centre Thunder Bay does this for two reasons, one is to raise funds,” Friday said. “Secondly, to raise the awareness of mental health and the linkage between fitness and mental health and raise the awareness that we need to keep the conversation going about mental health.”
“The other highlight is the kids run,” Friday added. “I think it’s so much fun to watch and it brings the whole family out. Just watching the smiles on the kid’s faces as they cross the finish line is just a highlight of the day.”
Andrew and Avery did the kid’s run together, which included one lap around the track, and because he was so impressed with Avery’s performance, he suspects in a few years she will be competing in the full marathon.
“I have no doubt about it,” he said.
The kids have a lot of fun racing around the track, even when holding dad’s hand, but Andrew said that is the goal of the marathon, to give all children a little help along the way.
“I think it’s wonderful,” he said. “I think any opportunity that we have to do things that ultimately benefit children in this community is a great thing.”
