Upcoming Events For Family Fitness, Fun, and Charity

There are so many compelling reasons to get your kids involved in charity events that include fitness, fun, music, friends and fundraising.

For one- If you love to be outside and be active here’s a way to enjoy that with your kids. I am super excited for the day when I can go out for a 5km fun run with my child and share something with them that I’ve loved for so long. It’s a way to get off of the sidelines while you watch your children play a sport and feel the fun of doing it together.

Running is just one example of this but there are so many great opportunities out there.

Here’s the lowdown on how getting your kids involved in a community event such as a charity run can benefit them… and you!

* children don’t have the same frame of reference for understanding the world around them like adults do. They are usually pretty much the most important thing in their universe at any given time so getting involved with helping out through a charity event can help introduce them to the concept of empathy. An understanding that there are many people in the world needing suport and understanding and aid. It doesn’t hurt to re-enforce this to yourself sometimes as well!

* Interacting with peers in a positive, suportive, fun way. Social development.

* collaboration

* fundraising. Therefore talking about money. Help your child brainstorm creative ways to get sponsors. Learn about budgeting…for example you can suggest they allot a small portion of their allowance for the entry fee into the event (if there is one) or simply to donate to the charity of their choice. Help them to prioratize what is a big ticket item they might want to save for and where can they do more indiscriminate spending. Talk about how this can be a really positive use of their money and empower them.

* Kids generally have a strong sense of what is unjust or unfair in their world… think about them having to eat what they don’t want, go to bed when they aren’t ready, share a toy or a game when they don’t want to. This is a way of diverting that need for what’s “fair” and “just” from their selfish concerns to a bigger context.

* Fun. Remember that. Music. Games. All a big part of any family event.

* Fitness. Get moving!

If you don’t know where to start here are a couple of events coming up this fall on the Shore that welcome kids and families as well as competetive athletes:

North Shore Kidney Run
www.northshorekidneyrun.ca
This takes place Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Ambleside Park. The event is to raise awareness towards kidney health and disease as well as to raise $20,000 for the Kidney Foundation of Canada for kidney patients and their families. There is a non-competetive 2.5km walk or a non-competetitive 5km fun run plus 5km and 8km timed runs. Go to their website to find out how to register, what the fees are, and how to sponsor a participant.

Strachan Hartley Legacy Run
www.shlf.ca
The Strachan Hartley Legacy Foundation was created in the memory of Dr. Strachan Hartley, a 30 year-old Vancouver man who passed away from cancer in 2007. He led a life of extraordinary achievement in many areas, including athletics and academics, and left behind a remarkable legacy that his family wished to carry on in his memory. The foundation’s mission is to provide youth the opportunity reach their potential through sports and education and one of the ways they raise money for the foundation and youth at risk is through the Strachan Hartley Lagacy Run. It takes place on Sunday, October 14, 2012 in the Capilano Highlands of North Vancouver. There is a family 5km where strollers and dogs are welcome, plus a 10km run for those looking for more of a challenge! Please visit the website for details on the course, on registering, and more information on the foundation and how you can get involved.

For more ideas on community events, races, and tournaments contact your local sports store, community centre, or recreation commission!