Sunday fitness run to help fight cancer

Rene Unser managed to beat cancer, now she's out for revenge.

Unser, along with 24 other runners will take part in the Second Annual P.A.C.E. Sport Fitness Charity Run Sunday. Proceeds will go towards the Canadian Cancer Society.

Why do people participate in 12-hour relays or weekend-long walks to end cancer? Dan Pallota, non-profit activist, says that it's because "People are weary of being asked to do the least they can possibly do. People are yearning to measure the full distance of their potential on behalf of the causes they care about deeply."

Unser is one such person. Like many people, she has been touched by cancer and she wants to fight back against this deadly disease. She and her 24-person entourage, will run from Salmon Arm to Sicamous on trails that make up the Larch Hills Traverse. The distance is just under 40km and will take five to six hours to complete. Their goal is to raise $7,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society - currently they are at $6,228.

Last year, P.A.C.E. Sports Fitness held their first annual charity event, running from Kelowna to Naramata through the trails in Okanagan Mountain Park, and raised more than $5,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. The run was just under 40km and took just over five hours to complete.

"It was a magical day with an inspiring group of people who worked hard, had fun and shared stories along the trail," said Unser. "Some people ran in honour of those who lost their battle with cancer while others shared how some survived. With the support from the community, friends and family, we raised over $5,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society."

All of the money raised by Unser and her runners provides vital funding for promising cancer research and support programs for people living with cancer in the Southern Interior Region. Unser's events also align with the Canadian Cancer Society's prevention messaging on ways that a healthy, active lifestyle can help reduce your cancer risks.

Unser has also been doing seasonal charity runs for the Kelowna Food bank for 3 years, and is hosting a trail running race in Kelowna on September 28, with all the proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society.

To donate to the P.A.C.E. Charity Run please go to: http://cancerevents.kintera.org/pacecharityrun

For more information about our prevention work, please go here