Mikey Welygan (better known in the running community as Mikey Dubz) has travelled to a lot of running events since he picked up the sport about six years ago. No matter where he goes, he always seems to find fellow Lloydminsterians on the start line.
“Whether it is two hours away or six hours away, I always run into handfuls of individuals from the community,” he says. “Our community is traveling to support all those other runs and I thought: Since we have that big running community here, maybe we should have more events for our local community to help support this area.”
So, earlier this year, Dubz partnered with Jonathan Huntington of 321 Go Running to organize the inaugural Synergy Credit Union Sunrise Run — a 5km run/walk in Lloydminster. The event, taking place on May 10, is a fundraiser for the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation’s Project Sunrise, which works to build up mental health capacity and resources in the community.
Here’s what you need to know about the event.
What: The Synergy Credit Union Sunrise Run is a fun run/walk that aims to deliver “high energy, lots of smiles, lots of fun,” says Dubz. “It’s about showing up to have a good time with new and old friends. This is not a race. It’s an event where everyone — whether you’re old or young, whether you run or jog or walk, whether you have a stroller — can take part.”
Why: The event is a fundraiser for the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation’s Project Sunrise, which works to build up mental health capacity and resources in the community.
“It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in — whether it’s oil and gas, green energy, commercial property, it doesn’t matter what you do — there’s a mental health aspect nowadays that is really hitting people hard,” Dubz says. “Raising money to support initiatives that help with that is important. We’re talking about mental health more and, as people speak out about their mental health struggles, we need to have resources that they can use without that feeling like another burden on them.”
Where: The Synergy Credit Union Sunrise Run starts and ends at Lloydminster’s Holy Rosary High School.
When: The event takes place on Sat. May 10, with the run/walk getting underway at 10 a.m. Package pickup is available Fri. May 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. or race morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
How to sign up: Register online via Race Roster. The cost for adults is $76.94, while youth aged 5-15 can sign up for $55.93. Kids under age 5 can register for free. A portion of every registration fee goes directly to mental health projects in the community via the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation. Participants can donate additional funds in the registration process and receive a charitable tax receipt for that amount via email.
