Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 05/05) - Exceeding all expectations, Yellowknifers once again proved they will lace up their shoes and go the extra mile for a worthwhile cause. The North's own Run for Our Lives raised $128,000 Sunday through individual and corporate donations.

Challenges and highest fundraisers: MacDonald school - $19,284. Winner in the Elite Commercial Flooring school challenge. Seven schools entered raised $42,902.51 Adam Dental Clinic raised $3,036. Winner in the Yellowknifer small corporate team challenged. Eleven businesses entered and raised $11,646. Great Slave Helicopters raised $8,839. Winner of the BHP Billiton large corporate team challenge. Five large businesses entered and raised $22,771.25. In the Nunasi community spirit challenge, seven teams entered and raised $6,905. Winner was The Aces, raising $2,725. Harley Lang, 11, raised $3,182 and was winner of the Diavik Diamond award for highest youth fundraiser. Canadian North Aurora award for highest adult fundraiser winner was Tony Chang who raised $11,210.

Fundraising efforts paid off at the local CIBC branch where more than $2,750 was raised.

"We almost doubled what we raised last year," said Ron Chiasson, a CIBC employee.

In Yellowknife, $108,261 was raised through individual and corporate donations.

Fort Simpson, Hay River, Norman Wells and Inuvik raised a combined total of $19,739.

More than 600 people from across the territories participated in the run.

Terry Chang, organizer of this year's event was delighted with the community response.

"It has exceeded our expectations not only in financial fundraising, because our goal in this first year was $100,000, but we did better than that," Chang said.

"And as far as community participation, this gym was jam-packed and there were a couple of hundred people outside," Chang said.

This year, Run for Our Lives has replaced the Run for the Cure event and as a result, organizers say the majority of funds raised will remain in the North for cancer research projects.

"It's been absolutely wonderful. We're thrilled to say the least," she added.

Bonny Madsen, the Yellowknife artist who created this year's signature artwork, said she was thrilled to be asked to create a painting reflective of the run.

"Cancer has been part of my life for a long time, and not just breast cancer," Madsen said.

"The inspiration for my painting actually came from my mother after chemo and she was very weak," she said. The long road ahead with someone beside her is depicted in the oil painting.

This year's recipient of the Humanitarian Award went to Meryl Falconer, a breast cancer survivor, who recently moved to Vancouver Island.

Premier Joe Handley and his wife Theresa led the walk. "I am very honoured to be able to do my little part in today's event," the premier said.

"The part we do today will help to give support to survivors," he added.

A funds distribution committee comprised of Northern people will seek and accept northern proposals identifying northern breast health projects which support education, awareness and equipment.

- with files from Roxanna Thompson