MANITOULIN—The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is gearing up to host the second annual Marc Hovingh Memorial Run, Ride or Walk on Manitoulin. The event, which has been expanded to include more participants through the run and walk components, honours the late Marc Hovingh’s sacrifice and legacy of service in support of the OPP Youth Foundation.
“This will be the second annual Marc Hovingh Memorial Ride, Run or Walk,” said Adam Belanger, provincial coordinator with the OPP Community Safety Services. “We are expanding the opportunities for more participants to take part by adding the run and walk to the event. We held the first ride last year.”
Mr. Belanger explained, “there are a couple of reasons we added the run and walk to the event, to open up opportunities for the community to show support and the OPP running team will be taking part this year,” he said noting, “among OPP representatives present will be OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique.”
“This year there will be two main rides, one being a 110-kilometre ride around Manitoulin Island,” said Mr. Belanger. “There will also be a 34-kilometre ride around Mindemoya Lake, and a five-kilometre ride for children/families to take part in.”
Mr. Belanger explained that the walks and runs will be five kilometres each.
“All participants taking part in the event will start out in the area by the community centre in Mindemoya and J.H. Burt Memorial Arena,” said Mr. Belanger.
“The event is a fundraiser in Marc Hovingh’s name for the OPP Youth Foundation,” continued Mr. Belanger. “The ride for youth is in support of local youth in need of assistance and who lack resources for positive development opportunities for sports or education.”
“We are hoping to raise $25,000 for the OPP Youth Foundation through the event; last year we raised just over $20,000. All the money is used for the OPP Youth Foundation in Ontario and on Manitoulin Island,” said Mr. Belanger. “We are also donating 10 bikes to recognized youth in the Manitoulin Island community from the OPP Youth Foundation along with shoes, shirts and shorts.”
Registration to take part in the long ride is $50, while the fee is $25 for the short ride, run and walk.
To register you can go online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ontario-provincial-police-youth-foundation/events/marc-hovingh-memorial-ride-run-or-walk-2. For those who can not participate but want to make a donation, they can use the following donate now link at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/74590
The event will take place on Saturday, September 10.
