Winkler’s Thanks for Giving Run returns

On a picture-perfect Saturday morning, with weather that couldn’t have been better for its return, 130 participants gathered at the starting line for the return of Winkler’s Thanks for Giving Run. The 5K, 10K and half marathon event was cancelled in 2019 due to a historic Thanksgiving snowstorm that year, and the last two years due to the pandemic.  

With the event back on the race and Thanksgiving agenda, much needed financial support for the Winkler and District Food Cupboard was raised, with both in-person and virtual run options available this year. Ten individuals took advantage of the virtual option. 

Approximately $19,000 was raised, and organizers feel this may have been the most successful run to date. 

The father and son duo of Cameron and Alex Funk couldn’t be missed wearing turkey costumes, and led the way for the kids run, challenging the age 10 and under runners to catch them. 

Cameron is also one of the event organizers, and a long-time participant. 

“We enjoy, as a family, to go on runs and my family is one of the organizers, so we just decided to come out here, and support this very worthy event, “said Cameron when ask to reflect on what has brought them back time and time again. “My wife, actually, is the runner of the family, and she got me, and then as things progressed, once we had kids, we tried to get them into running, and it's absolutely a family event for us to go to runs.” 

“I've been running for basically as long as I can remember with my mom and my dad, and it's been lots of fun,” added Alex. 

Dad Cameron was taking on the 10K event alongside his youngest son Saturday morning, while Alex was running in the 5K. Both, though, were the “turkeys” let loose for kids race. 

“Me and my dad are going to run, and then a bunch of people are going to try to catch us to get a free Turkey,” explained Alex.

“There's a lot of enthusiasm from the young ones around here, so we are going to get caught at some point in time, but I'm going to do my best to gobble away from everybody,” added Cameron while pondering the chances of being caught.  

The fundraiser is typically the biggest of the year for the Winkler and District Food Cupboard. 

“It's at this season we give thanks for everything, and it's good to remember those who don't have as much as we do,” noted Cameron. “It's an easy thing for us to do to support these types of events.” 

Building on the entire goal of the Thanks for Giving Run, one of the adult runners, Stephanie R. from Winnipeg, won first place in the Women's 10k and also won a turkey. Organizers shared with PembinaValleyOnline she was very happy with the race course, and with her result, but was also very generous and donated the turkey back to the Winkler food cupboard 

On the race results side of things, the winner of the half marathon was clocked at the unofficial time of one hour and thirty-two minutes. Other winners and times will be posted on the event’s website in the coming days. 

“Organizers were very impressed with one of our corporate sponsors, Valley Fiber,” indicated a a race day outline shared with PembinaValleyOnline. “They contributed at least a dozen runners and volunteers to the event. Organizers, and the Winkler Food Cupboard, are very thankful for such substantial support, and are already thinking of ways to encourage further corporate support next year, maybe even some friendly competition between businesses.” 

And with the return of the event now in the rear view, organizers noted they were very pleased with it, and are already looking forward to next year. 

An aerial picture of the Kids Race participants getting ready to chase Cameron and Alex Funk. Submitted photo.