The Comox Valley Road Runners held their annual Jingle Bell Charity Run for the food bank on Sunday, Dec. 6 at Seal Bay Park.
Amidst blustery conditions, the broken branches and fallen trees were cleared away, then for a brief interval the rain paused and 83 hardy runners and walkers navigated the 3 km and 7 km swampy trails of Seal Bay Park.
Clanging their cowbells and dressed in a wide range of festive costumes participants ran, walked, pushed strollers and gathered playing cards given out by dealers along the route. The best poker hands won special prizes, and there were plenty of draw prizes for other participants and for the team of 36 volunteers. Hot drinks and food at the end provided some relief as the heavy rainfall returned.
The grand prize winner however was the Comox Valley Food Bank that drove off with $916 and a van load of donated food. This will go a long way to replenishing food bank supplies steadily depleted during this time of high demand.
The Road Runners organization is pleased to have the opportunity to give back to the community, and would like to give special recognition and thanks to our sponsors who helped make this event a success: Thrifty Foods, Ski Tak Hut, Mudsharks Coffee Bar, Alberni Outpost, J Waters Electrical, LaCasse Construction, Extreme Runners, Comox Recreation, Trail Bicycles, Lewis Centre, Comox Valley Sports and Aquatic Centre, Jim Smiley Remax Ocean Pacific Realty, Medicine Shoppe, Mountain City Cycle, Boston Pizza, Comox Valley RV and Tim Hortons Comox.