O-YA gearing up for another 'Goode Run'

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Emma Jackson

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The Osgoode Youth Association is gearing up for their annual Goode Run for O-YA. The run will take place on the new multi-use pathway in Osgoode village.

Steve Roberts

The Osgoode Youth Association is gearing up for their annual Goode Run for O-YA. The run will take place on the new multi-use pathway in Osgoode village.

EMC News - If you've been craving a good run, the Osgoode Youth Association can help.

Registration is now open for the second annual 'Goode Run' for O-YA, which will take place in May along the new multi-use pathway.

The centre has organized a two kilometre family walk/run, a five kilometre run and a 10 kilometre run for Saturday, May 12.

Last year's inaugural event was the centre's biggest fundraiser of 2011, blowing away the centre's $15,000 fundraising goal and topping $23,000 through registration fees and pledges.

O-YA board of directors chairperson Heather Roe said the she was shocked by the level of participation last year, and hopes to increase it this year.

"We would have been happy if 100 people had come out and run. We thought that was going to be wildly successful. When it started getting into 200 and 300 registrations we were like, 'What is going on?'" she laughed. "This year I anticipate somewhere between 500 and 600 runners. I'm putting the goal at $30,000."

The event is still looking for a title sponsor and will likely need about 50 volunteers to be successful, Roe said. She is also hoping to introduce some new events before the runs, perhaps with local businesses and sponsors leading warm ups or games for participants. She also wants to create a Kids' Zone, perhaps run out of the O-YA centre itself.

"Then mom and dad could come and run and have a place to plop the kids down," she said.

There will also be prizes this year for the top three runners in each race.

All of the runs start at the O-YA centre on Osgoode Main Street. The two-kilometre walk/run heads south down the multi-use pathway towards Buckles Street before heading back to the centre. The five and 10 kilometre runs head north on the pathway, also on an "out and back" route.

O-YA director Nicole McKerracher said she was thrilled with the response last year.

"It was an amazing event on a number of levels. We had over 400 people register to run, which is more than some of the big city runs. It was a really exciting time for us because so much interest was shown," she said.

O-YA is a non-profit organization that provides positive youth programming for children and teens in the village.

The centre receives funding from the City of Ottawa, United Way and several local businesses. It relies on fundraising to augment its budget every year. Visit o-ya.ca for a link to the registration forms. Early bird prices start at $25 in February, increasing to $35 in March and $45 in April.

emma.jackson@metroland.com