Briana Shymanski/Rocky View Publishing

A group of enthusiastic runners and walkers take off from the starting line during the Childhood Cancer Walk at Genesis Place, June 17.

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Local track clubs host inaugural Childhood Cancer Walk

The Airdrie Optimist Club, along with the Airdrie Aces Athletic Club, hosted the city’s first Childhood Cancer Walk at Genesis Place, June 17. The event raised an estimated $5,500 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation with the proceeds going to benefit childhood cancer treatment.

“It was really good,” said Jodie Matsuba-Szucs, event coordinator. “It was our first year, but we raised more than we did in the first year of the Mayor’s Run. It was a non-competitive walk and fun run, so we did not too bad.”

The event was created through a partnership between the Optimist Club and the Aces, as the Optimist Club is the principle sponsor of the track team. Matsuba-Szucs said the idea behind the walk was for the Aces to help the club raise money for childhood cancer instead of accepting a monetary donation. June is the Optimist International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Matsuba-Szucs said the Aces were happy to help.

“It wasn’t hard to do and it worked out well,” she said. “It’s for a good cause and the kids on our track team were able to give a little bit back. They learned something from it.”

She also added that the Optimist Club and the Aces would look into doing a similar event next year.