Catch It If You Can
The Run for Rights is an event to raise money for organizations which are working for social justice and human rights. This year is the fourth annual Run and will be held on June 11th, and will start and end at Kildonan Park in Winnipeg. Registration for the Run will start at 8:30 AM on that day, and the Run will start at 9:30 AM. The participants raise pledges before the day of the event to support an organization of their choice. They can run, walk, cycle, or wheel along a 5 km or 10 km route.
At last year's Run, there were 133 runners, whose estimated pledges and donations totaled $11,507 (CAD). In addition to that money, there was $1225 (CAD) raised from sponsors to cover the expenses involved in putting on the run, so 100% of the pledges and donations received by the runners went to the organization they were supporting.
RESPECT is one of many organizations involved with the Run for Rights. Some of the other organizations are Amnesty International, WREN (Winnipeg Refugee Education Network), Engineers Without Borders, and LITE (Local Investment Toward Employment).
The volunteers from RESPECT who've been involved with planning this year's Run are Marc Schaeffer, International Coordinator, RESPECT International, Blair Senio, and Keri Wizbicki.
Keri Wizbicki is originally from Winnipeg, and is a nursing student at the University of Manitoba. She has been working with RESPECT for a few months. She wants to become a nurse because she has a desire to work with people of other cultures who are in need. She thought that getting involved with a group such as RESPECT, that works with refugees, would be a great experience. After she contacted Marc a few months ago, he suggested that Keri should represent RESPECT in helping to organize the Run for Rights.
To prepare for the event, Keri has attended meetings for the organizing committee, and shared this information with others involved with RESPECT through e-mail and meetings. There are plans to put up posters throughout part of the city as the time for the event draws near, to recruit participants for the Run, and volunteers who'll help with setting up on the day of the event, and taking down and cleaning up afterward.
If you are going to be in the area on that day, or know of anyone else who will, we hope that you and they will consider coming out to run in support of refugee communities that RESPECT works with around the world.