About 450 students and teachers took to the streets this afternoon to support the annual Run For Water.
Colleen and Gordie Howe Middle School held its third annual Mini Run For Water event which saw students walk, jog or run a three-kilometre route.
The event was part of a month-long fundraising drive that has seen students of the school raise over $3,000 to support the main Run For Water event which helps build clean water projects in remote and desolate areas of Ethiopia.
Students held a pajama day, a bake sale, contests, raffles and other events to help collect money.
Today's run was also a chance for students to earn some bragging rights.
Devon Kular, a Grade 8 student, was the first to complete the run in a time of 11 minutes and one second.
"I feel really good. This other guy always used to beat me so it felt good to beat him. He's a good friend of mine," he said.
Kular has participated in the school's mini run every year. Last year he also ran in the main run for the first time.
Mini runs and school assemblies have been held at numerous schools in April and May. The schools are located in various districts including Abbotsford, New Westminster, Agassiz, Mission and even Vancouver. The schools are all raising funds for Ethiopian water projects.
The annual Envision Financial Run for Water takes place on Sunday, May 26 at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford. It offers four runs – a marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K.
Each begin at staggered start times – 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.
To register for the Run for Water or for more information, visit abbotsford.runforwater.ca.
Students from Dave Kandal Elementary School took part in a Mini-Run For Water last week. The kids ran a one kilometre loop on campus for 30 minutes.
