We can’t play rugby right now, but we can Run for Southlake

April 29, 2021 · 0 Comments

When the Aurora Barbarian Rugby Club decided to join the 2021 Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake, they went all in!For the club, it was an excellent opportunity to raise funds for Southlake and a great way to build camaraderie at a time when members were being forced to stay apart.

The Club formed a team, Aurora Barbarian Rugby, and rallied members to register, even incentivizing with a discount on club dues to the first players to join.

Dan Murack, a long-time member registered early and gifted his discount to one of the younger members who didn’t make the cut.

“It’s a tradition in Rugby,” he says. “Whether it’s paying opportunities forward or providing financial help, the older members help out the younger ones whenever possible.”

It’s that culture of giving and helping that is rallying the Club during the Southlake Run.

The Barbarians changed the cover photo on their Facebook page to the Run for Southlake banner and created posts about their participation. In the spirit of this year’s Run, they left it up to each team member to set their own strategy and distance goals.

Sydney Mann, who has played for the Barbarians for over a decade, jumped at the chance to register. A lifelong resident of the area, she understands the importance Southlake brings to its communities.

“I’ve been lucky never having used the hospital’s services,” she says, “but my family members have and received excellent care.”

Both Sydney and Dan were happy for the opportunity to add structure to their physical training. Sydney is running her distance.

“It is more fun to run for someone else, not just myself,” she says.

Sydney initially set her activity goal at 20kms and her fundraising goal at $150.

“I was shocked by how generous people were,” she says.

In no time she had raised $750, so she changed her fundraising goal to $1,000 and honoured her sponsors by doubling her distance commitment to 40kms!

Dan’s approach is more practical. He and his family recently adopted Gypsy, a husky puppy.

“She loves to hike,” says Dan, “and thankfully so do we!”

The family shares duties walking the 10-15 kms a day needed to keep Gypsy happy. This is no hardship!

Dan is fully enjoying his lunchtime hikes on York Regional Forest trails to achieve his goal of 300kms. His next objective is to focus on fundraising. Dan has committed to raising $500, and believes he will make it.

“People are generous,” he says. “I think the consensus is that the governments are funding so much right now that those who can need to step up to help.”

The 2021 Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake kicked off on April 12^th and runs until May 9^th. There is still plenty of time to “step up” to either register or sponsor a participant. Visit runforsouthlake.ca for information.

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