Cinnamon Bun Fun Run - News Updates
Leading up to the event, relevant Cinnamon Bun Fun Run news will be posted for participants.
December 8, 2011
Cinnamon Bun Fun Run Presents $3,420 Cheque To Ladysmith Food Bank
The spirit of giving continues. Earlier this week, CBFR Run Co-Director Kim Judson presented Ladysmith Food Bank Director Kit Wilmot with a cheque that represents money that was donated to the Ladysmith Food Bank during the 7th Annual Cinnamon Bun Fun Run.
The donation of $3,420.00 was generated from a number of sources including a generous donation from the United Steelworkers Humanity Fund, cash donations from event participants who in the spirit of the upcoming holiday season made the food bank their charity of choice, proceeds from the sale of CBFR technical running shirts, and residual event funding from our Cinnamon Bun Fun Run corporate sponsors.
Kit Willmot received the cheque and expressed his sincere gratitude to all the walkers and runners that participated in this year's Cinnamon Bun Fun Run.
For the record, the Ladysmith Food Bank received 2,900 lbs of food for their holiday season shelves which was all due to the generosity of 447 walkers and runners who participated in the event. Cinnamon Bun Fun Run Organizers are very grateful to the citizens of Ladysmith for their strong support for the Ladysmith Food Bank and thank them for making the event such a huge success.
November 29, 2011
Cinnamon Bun Runners Raise 2,900 Pounds of Food for Ladysmith Food Bank
By Niomi Pearson - Ladysmith Chronicle
For Cassandra Taylor, the reward of completing the 5km Cinnamon Bun Fun Run Sunday morning was almost as sweet as the delectable treat waiting for her at the finish line. “I gained all the calories I lost, but it was for a good cause,” she said.
Taylor and hundreds of others braved light rain to participate in the annual event, which raised a record 2,900 lbs. of food (600 lbs. more than last year) for the Ladysmith Food Bank, and saw 408 runners cross the finish line. As is the fun run tradition, winners are determined not by finish time but by predicted time.
“I love this event because you never know who will win and this year was no exception,” said run co-director John Mountain. “We had families of four five and six, there were even extended families with grandma and gramps, and moms and dads and the kids... some walking and some running, but all participating and all in the running equally for the top prize.”
Predicting her 57:23 time within 66 hundreths of a second was Midge Smith for first place. Taking second place was Tracey Welch, with a difference of 1.3 seconds off her actual time of 28:54:03. Young Carson Craven ran away with third prize after predicting a time 1.14 seconds under actual time of 48:36:86.
The Ladysmith Striders has organized the event, which takes place at Frank Jameson Community Centre, for the last seven years. Mountain said it would not be possible without support from local businesses, and the volunteers. This year’s event was manned by 50 dedicated volunteers.
November 26, 2011
Cinnamon Bun Fun Run Starts In Less Than 24 Hours
Hey!... Walkers and Runners! The Cinnamon Bun Fun Run is less than 24 hours away... so get ready... set... go! I know all you runners and walkers are ready and just roaring to go but I need to offer a few final thoughts about making the event a successful one. So let's talk about the event road course first. It's real important that you have an understanding of where you're walking or running because we're looking forward to our best turn-out ever this year in terms of numbers... pre-registered numbers that have already slipped past the 400 mark! So with this crowd out on the roads, knowing where you're walking and running in order to stay on course and on top of your predicted time target is really important. I know... I know... we have Course Marshals and yes... its true... they're out there on the roads to help us and guide us. But hey!... we can really help ourselves by simply knowing the course so we can all nail our predicted time right to the second. For this reason it's recommended that participants take a few seconds to look over and examine the course again... yes... that's right, do it now using the map directly below. If you are unable to see the map below, click the following link:
http://www.cinnamonbunrun.com/sitecm/i/2008_5k_loop_route900x609.jpg
Cinnamon Bun Fun Run Course Map (10K participants complete two loops of the course)
For awareness on timing devices, a friendly reminder to all participants that timing devices are not allowed on the course and at the risk of sounding heavy-handed, Event Officials humbly ask participants to check and double check both wrists before the event starts. In an effort to make this event fun for everyone, Event Officials will insist that all timing devices like sports watches, Garmins, and heart rate monitors be removed and not worn. So... when we're jumping up and down doing those warm-up stretches, let's reach for the sky and check those wrists!
Finally, a few words about the finishing area. There will be Event Officials waiting at the finish line to cheer on all walkers and runners and at times offer some friendly awareness on finishing line conditions should there be any congestion. Please listen to the Event Officials for any timely directions and move quickly through the finishing line area in an orderly fashion. We ask that participants move through the finishing line and then queue up behind the participant that finished ahead so that the bib tags can be removed and collected in the order of the recorded finishing time. It is most important to keep your position in the chute as all finishing times are matched consecutively to the order that the bib tags were collected.
For your further awareness, Event Officials in some cases be loudly calling out bib numbers as participants cross the line should the finishing area become congested. So it's most important that you approach the finishing line without stopping for victory photos... and move into the tag-removal chute behind the preceding participant which will assure the accurate recording of finishing times for everyone. And should you decide to snap a few victory pictures, please pose for photos after you have finished the event. For any clarification on this procedure, please contact an Event Official before the start and they will be happy to review the finishing process with you.
The Weather Network is calling for isolated showers Sunday morning improving to sunshine by the afternoon; this is huge improvement over the rainy wet conditions we experienced in the last few days and we look forward to some relatively dry streets on Sunday.
November 19, 2011
Weather Forecast for Cinnamon Bun Sunday Calling For Rain Showers
Hello Cinnamon Bun Sunday Walkers and Runners!
Yuck!... I've just now gathered up enough nerve to peek at the seven-day weather forecast and looks like it may be a tad damp for next weekend. The weather network has posted the likelihood of rain showers for Cinnamon Bun Sunday as Saturday's variable clouds intensify. So maybe if we all think positively, we can collectively reflect those rain showers away into Sunday afternoon well after the event. I know that some of you probably remember our run in the fog from a couple of years ago and of course, the year when winter swooped in early and dumped a heavy blanket of snow on the course. Let's put all thoughts of the fluffy white stuff right out of our minds and only think about that broad period of sunshine at will appear next Sunday morning for a few hours between eight and noon.
We all know that runners and walkers just love to strut their latest running gear and I for one, know there is some truth in that statement. So wet weather is really not a big problem because runners usually have trendy wet weather gear to match whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at them... as runners we may get wet, but we are resilient and willing to "let water run off like on a duck's back" in support of a good cause. So no matter what happens weather-wise on Cinnamon Bun Sunday, I'm fairly certain that Cinnamon Bun Fun Run runners and walkers will be the best-dressed weather-proofed bunch around and fully prepared to take on the elements. And by the looks of things, we'll have none of that white soggy stuff to deal with because that show of winter we got a few days ago has already passed by. So let's leave our snow boots and gaiters at home!
The CBFR Event Organizers are happy to report that event preparations are moving along as planned and will be geared up and ready to accept same-day registration between 8am and 9:15am. Again, the preferred method of registering for the Cinnamon Bun Fun Run is through the online registration page on the website. However, a word of caution. Please urge family and friends to avoid disappointment if they want to participate this year. Remind them to registering online because due to fire-code restrictions on the number of people inside the FJCC, there is a chance that once our maximum number is reached, the event day registrations may cease. So it's best to register online beforehand.
I'm certain that this dodgy weather forecast combined with the idea of running or walking in support of a worthy cause will not detract from anyone's spirits. Event organizers offer whole-hearted thanks to participants for helping out and making a difference in our community. As a friendly reminder to those veteran runners and walkers, and for initial awareness for first timers, the entry fee of five food items can be more if you want. We set the entry requirement at a minimum five items of food for the Ladysmith Food Bank but we're certainly willing to accept as much food as you can carry. Why not bring a whole shopping bag! Seriously though, we ask that you bring whatever you can because it would be great to fill the food bank shelves in advance of the approaching holiday season because we all understand there is bound to be allot more pressure on the food bank at this time of the year.
Now a note about parking. The FJCC has limited parking adjacent to the building because the area will be occupied again by the start line and finishing chute which is provided again this year by the Nanaimo Running Room. Please note that this area will be unavailable. Instead we would like to suggest that you cast-an-eye over to the high school parking lot for a place to put Old Iron. There is some street parking along 6th Avenue and also some parking on the side streets of Warren, Kitchener, and Buller, and behind both schools on Malone Road. In this regard, we ask that respect for private property is observed while leaving your vehicle on the side streets and ask that you try not to block any residential driveways. Click here for a map of the event course which shows adjacent streets.
A reminder to all participants that the course is an open course. This means that you will undoubtedly encounter vehicular traffic during the event so please look to the CBFR Course Marshals for directions at all controlled intersections and be well aware of traffic conditions. Runners should take note that as the 5K course nears completion they should watch for the Course Marshal's signal as the 10k participants will be directed to the left back onto 6th Ave for another loop of the 5K course. There is bound to be some congestion in this area as the 10K runners will be splitting away from the main field... so please use caution. Please visit the CBFR Frequently Asked Questions for more information on the event.
On behalf of the CBFR Organizing Committee, I want to thank the repeat participants for considering our event again this year; for those newbies, hello and welcome, it is going to be another great event.
November 15, 2011
Buns Warming Up For Annual Fun Run
It’s the only event in Ladysmith where you can both warm and eat your buns at the same time. It’s the Cinnamon Bun Fun Run, and on November 27, local residents will continue the annual tradition to raise donations and funds for the Ladysmith Food Bank.
Run co-coordinator John Mountain said the race, now in its seventh year, is a good way to kick off the upcoming holiday season with some exercise. “This is an event where you prepare for Christmas – you know you’re going to be eating a whole pile of turkey, so here’s your chance to get out there and get ahead of the game,” he said. “It’s also a time where we want to get the shelves of the food bank swelling.”
What started as a grassroots event with just 60 people has blossomed into a highly anticipated event pulling in well over 400 participants some years. Run committee member Bruce Youngren said the organizing committee is very thankful for the support of local businesses, their 30+ volunteers and of course, the participants themselves.
Youngren said there has been an increase in family participation over the last few years. “This is really about helping the food bank, but it’s just as importantly about literally putting the food on the table for those in greatest need in the community at Christmas,” he said.
Last year’s event saw approximately 300 participants, $3,900 raised in cash and 2,300 pounds of food donated to the food bank. This year, 170 participants have already registered.
The Cinnamon Bun Fun Run is a five kilometre fairly flat route starting at Frank Jameson Community Centre. Eager runners can complete the loop twice for a 10k run. The run is a predicted time run, meaning everyone can guess their finish time for a chance at cool prizes. All you need to enter the run is a food bank donation, although monetary donations are accepted. All participants receive hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun at the finish line, as is tradition.
The run was started in 2004 by a group of friends known as the Ladysmith Striders, who gather on a weekly basis to run or walk together. “We wanted to give back to the community,” Mountain said. “We locked into the idea of cinnamon buns and hot chocolate so that’s what we decided to have. It’s gotten pretty popular.”
Participants should be prepared for any weather. “We go rain or shine [or snow],” Mountain said.
To learn more or to register, visit http://www.cinnamonbunrun.com/
November 12, 2011
Cinnamon Bun Sunday Just Over Two Weeks Away
Hello again Walkers and Runners!
The 7th Annual Cinnamon Bun Fun Run is a little more than two weekends away and all of us here at CBFR Central are busy connecting-the-dots as we plan for our seventh annual walking and running event. We are feeling especially stoked this year because we know how last years enormous food bank donation was really appreciated and as a result of the great feeling that seemed to be shared by everyone attending the 2010 event, we're working really hard to raise everyone's level of awareness and sense of charity again for the event this year.
With that in mind, CBFR organizers are requesting that participants extend another helping hand to the Ladysmith Food Bank at some other point during the calendar year. We hope that walkers and runners will again help out those in need by doubling the impact of participation in our event by dropping-off another five non-perishable items at the Ladysmith Food Bank at a time of their choosing in the upcoming spring or summer months. Hopefully this year we'll over-fill the Ladysmith Food Bank shelves and make more of an impact that we did last year.
Ladysmith Food Bank Coordinator Jacquie Stuart has expressed her sincere gratitude to all of you who are walking or running in this year's Cinnamon Bun Fun Run and she offers a few interesting facts about her client's needs that are met as a result of your generous participation.
Jacquie says that a large number of people use the Ladysmith Food Bank every week. Some are individuals that are trying to make ends meet while others are facing challenges of poor health and/or disabilities. Jacquie also wonders if Ladysmith residents realize that over 40% of those who benefit from food bank donations are under the age of eighteen. Although all food donations are needed and welcomed, Jacquie Stuart gently reminds us all that their donation priorities are canned meats (like tuna) and canned vegetables, sugar and cereal. Other non-perishable foods that are in constant need are peanut butter and jam, and soups of all varieties; pasta sauces in jars or packets, and pasta noodles of all kinds including kid's favourites like Sidekicks and Kraft Dinner. Coffee and tea is always welcome. Thanks for taking the time to read this message. So many of you are telling us that they're planning to be there with family and friends, and others are talking to their friends and families about the opportunity to give back to our community during the Christmas holiday season. CBFR Central and the Ladysmith Food Bank are most grateful for all that you do.
November 1, 2011
Cinnamon Bun Fun Run Supports Ladysmith Food Bank
A story on the national television news recently reminded me of how important our Cinnamon Bun Fun Run charity event is to the Ladysmith Food Bank. That story really blew me away, so I decided to share it with you in hope that it would illustrate what a significant difference you are making in the lives of others by coming together on Cinnamon Bun Sunday to walk or run in support the Ladysmith Food Bank. Good on you!... and the Ladysmith Striders Running Group really appreciates your decision to participate in this year's event.
Food Bank Demand Remains Near Record High
Two years after the end of the recession, Canadians continue to need help putting food on the table with more than 851,000 people visiting a food bank in March of this year, according to a new survey. In total, 851,014 people walked through the doors of a food bank, a number that is down 2 per cent from 2010 but which marks a significant increase from before the 2008 recession.
"Food bank use is 26 per cent higher than in 2008, and this fact sends a clear message: the effects of the recession are still being felt across the country," states the report HungerCount 2011. "As a result, a near record number of people are unable to afford enough food for themselves and their families."
Prior to the 2008-2009 global recession, food banks in Canada had recorded four years of consistent declines.
Here are some key findings from the report:
"It has become harder to find and keep a good job, and nearly impossible to afford even basic food, clothing, and adequate shelter if one is receiving government assistance for any length of time. It is an unfortunate reality that food banks have grown, by necessity, to fill the gap," the report states. Among its recommendations the report calls on governments to increase funding for affordable housing and to expand subsidies for low-income earners, to provide further help for low-income seniors and to improve Employment Insurance benefits for workers, and especially for older workers facing layoff.
"These facts show hunger is a monthly, weekly and even a daily concern for Canadians across the social spectrum," said Katharine Schmidt, executive director of Food Banks Canada during a news conference on Tuesday in Ottawa to announce the findings. "Because of economic change, illness, family upheaval or other unexpected life situations any one of us could find ourselves needing help and face the heartbreak of watching our children go to school or go to bed hungry." (Courtesy of CTV News)
Understanding why food banks are necessary reinforces the Ladysmith Striders Running Group's commitment to organizing the Cinnamon Bun Fun Run charity event with all proceeds going to the Ladysmith Food Bank. We thank you for coming out to support this worthy charity. Online registration for the Cinnamon Bun Fun Run is open and available at: www.cinnamonbunrun.com.
October 8, 2011
Cinnamon Bun Fun Run Online Registration Opens on October 15th
Greetings Fellow Walkers and Runners!
The CBFR Event Organizers are starting to rip-around in preparation for the 7th Annual Cinnamon Bun Fun Run. This year's fun run is confirmed for Sunday, November 27th with the running and walking event beginning again in Ladysmith at the Frank Jameson Community Center. As in previous Cinnamon Bun Fun Runs, the entry-fee for the event is 5 items of non-perishable goods which must be brought to the event in order to receive and collect the event race bib. And for every entrant that participates in this event, it's good to know that their food donations will be directed to the Ladysmith Food Bank and received with thanks and appreciation.
The Cinnamon Bun Fun Run is an event focused on family and friends participation. CBFR Organizers remain very pleased that family participation continues to climb bringing parents and children together to promote healthy lifestyles. And addition to walking dads with daughters, striding moms with sons, and running grandparents pacing grandchildren, there are legions of other family and friends who are not only choosing to complete the course to better their individual health, they're modeling compassion and caring by donating to charity - in this case, the Ladysmith Food Bank. As organizers of the event, we take great comfort in knowing that the citizens of Ladysmith are very health conscious and really care for those in the community who are less fortunate.
We have news of a new sponsor for this year's event. CBFR Organizers are pleased to announce that ideaLEVER Solutions Inc. are climbing aboard the CBFR bus and are willing to develop a new-look website for the Cinnamon Bun Fun Run. Vancouver and Kamloops-based ideaLEVER Solutions Inc. is an experienced leader in hosted web content management and hosted e-commerce content management systems, and CBFR is looking forward to integrating their online SiteCM tools into a new more-stable website. Even though ideaLEVER Solutions Inc. has only joined us in late September, Cinnamon Bun Fun Run is excited and pleased to have them onboard. Register online from our website after October 15th and look for our new ideaLEVER Solutions Inc. website sometime in the middle of October. While we are currently working hard to develop the new site as quickly as possible, we expect our new-look website to be ready in the next tens days.
CBFR Organizers would like to publically acknowledge our Cinnamon Bun Fun Run sponsors for their support of this event. Thanks to LCU Insurance Agencies Ltd., Family Insurance Solutions, Nanaimo Running Room, Town of Ladysmith - Parks and Recreation, Ladysmith Chronicle, Senini Graphics, BBMR Creative Advertising, and our new sponsor ideaLEVER Solutions Inc. We hope that Cinnamon Bun Fun Run participants will consider these sponsors for their future needs.
There are two ways to register for the 7th Annual Cinnamon Bun Fun Run.
You can either: 1. Register in-person on the day of the event on Sunday, November 27th between 8:30 am and 9:15 am. 2. Or the preferred method, pre-registering online up to midnight Friday, November 25th.
We are happy to announce that online per-registration will be open on October 15th and when that day arrives, simply head over to the "Registration Page". Also, please remember the "entry fee" by bringing five non-perishable food items for the Ladysmith Food Bank! We are so grateful to you for your willingness to say "yes" to this annual community charity event!
John CBFR Central
November 28, 2010
Runners And Walkers Swell Food Bank Shelves
Cool freezing temperatures and icy streets greeted walkers and runners to the 6th Annual Cinnamon Bun Fun Run on Sunday morning but didn't dampen their willingness to give to the Ladysmith Food Bank. While the entry fee for the 5K Walk, 5K Run & 10K Run was five non-perishable food items, many participants gave much more than the minimum requirement which resulted in an impressive display of goodwill that required two trucks to move the massive mountain of CBFR entry contributions to food bank shelves.
The level of support this year for the CBFR was most welcome by organizers as nearly 350 runners and walkers stood at the start for the beginning of the event. A quick head count in the FJCC gymnasium tallied nearly 400 walk and run participants that seemingly included a substantial number of entire families, couples, support personnel, event organizers, and general spectators.
Opening comments of welcome from CBFR Event Coordinator Kim Judson preceded former Ladysmith Strider Bill Adair and Town of Ladysmith Mayor Rob Hutchins who both spoke about strength of community and lending a hand to those less fortunate at times of need.
Bill Adair is an avid supporter of the Cinnamon Bun Fun Run and former resident of Ladysmith. Bill played a key role in dreaming up the idea of a predicted time event and together with Kim Judson and Bruce Youngren, organized the very first Cinnamon Bun Fun Run in 2005. Bill congratulated event organizers for their efforts to make the fun run an annual event and applauded the residents of Ladysmith for attending the event in support the Ladysmith Food Bank.
Mayor Hutchins spoke about the strength of smaller communities and how they can quickly respond to and rally around worthy causes; he gave tribute to Ladysmith residents who find time in their busy lives to get involved in community events.
After an energetic warm-up routine guided by PJ Halliday, walkers and runners set forth onto the streets of Ladysmith heading south on 6th Avenue past the Fire Hall to Methuen. Both the 5K and 10K distances were over the same course with 10k runners extending the course with a second lap around. At strategic places along the course, the Ladysmith Ambassadors cheered participants and captured their enthusiasm on digital cameras. At the Dunsmuir and Bickle half-way point, volunteers and Ladysmith Ambassadors manned the water station to provide hydration to weary participants as they crested the steepest hill on the course. The steep hill gave way to a gentle one and a half kilometer downhill which provided nice recovery for a slight uphill on 5th Avenue and Buller and a right turn onto 6th Avenue for the finish. And thanks to the volunteer Course Marshalls who managed the somewhat slippery course, everyone made it safety to FJCC for a cinnamon bun finish.
Arriving at the finish, runners and walkers were rewarded with gooey cinnamon buns and hot chocolate, smiles and well-wishes from friends, family, and volunteers. CBFR Organizers took some steps this year to improve their event finishing time recording procedures by combining electronic event timing and the wireless transfer of finishing data to their event data center. Thanks to some remarkable Ladysmith Strider computer geeks, CBFR Organizers moved into the realm of cyberspace which provided participants with timely results and an elevated level of accuracy to the one hundredth of a second. Using electronic technology, the event time-keepers were able to handle the rising tide of same day entries and manage the steady inflow of wireless finishing data effectively as participants passed through the finishing zone.
Heart-felt thanks to all the participants was delivered by outgoing Ladysmith Food Bank Director Kit Wilmot. In his address, Mr. Wilmot marveled at the pile of food already accumulating at the back of the hall and stressed the value of giving to others in need and how wonderful it is to have Food Bank shelves stocked high as the holiday season approaches. He thanked the CBFR organizers for their determination to present the event year after year in sometimes less than ideal conditions, and thanked the walkers and runners for turning out and supporting the food bank fundraiser.
As a result of this new event timing technology, winners were declared soon after all the door prizes were drawn. Five featured prizes were reserved for the top five finishers and the closest predicted time finisher got to claim a featured prize of their choice. The 2010 Cinnamon Bun Fun Run winners were declared as Paula Galloway who basically zeroed her predicted time within four-hundredth of a second; Lorna Judson who walked to a second place finish within 2.7 seconds of her pre-race prediction; Sari Saunders in third place with a close 3.2 second brush with her predicted time; Rod Hartman in fourth with a fine 3.5 finishing effort; and in fifth place, Midge Smith who finished close to her predicted time at 3.8 seconds. Honourable mentions extended to tenth place are Michelle James, Jennifer Hall, Leaha Argue, Scott Lovely, and Lucy Davis who all finished within a four to five second range for their predicted times. Congratulations to the winners of this predicted time event and a round of applause to all walkers and runners that participated and made this event a success.
A cash box for monetary donations was also available for participants to give cash instead of food. A shake of the box after the event revealed the tell-tale sounds of tens and twenties just waiting to be turned into jars of peanut butter and packets of hot cereal. In addition to cash being plunked into the donation box by generous participants, there were two donations to the Ladysmith Food Bank of significant value. Local dentist Dr. Jim Guild is a huge Cinnamon Bun Fun Run supporter and Dr. Guild kindly donated a $1,000 cheque that event organizer received on behalf of the Food Bank with thanks. Event Organizer John Mountain - a member of the United Steelworkers Union - presented a $1,500 donation cheque on behalf of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. Mr. Mountain explained in his cheque presentation that while the Steelworkers Humanity Fund regularly helps food banks right across Canada, it is international in scope and was created to assist those who need help as a result of crisis situations around the world. He says that many Steelworker members bargain provisions into their collective agreements that allow them to donate a portion of their hourly pay directly to the Steelworker Humanity Fund.
Volunteers provide the fuel that drives the Cinnamon Bun Fun Run engine and without volunteers the event organizers - volunteers themselves - would have never able to conclude this successful fundraising event. Through their generous offering of time and energy, a core group of volunteers makes this event happen by setting up the venue, sheparding participants through the registration process, marshalling the roads, dispensing water on the course, managing the participants event data, and finally by offering hot beverages and cinnamon buns to all. Volunteers who give their time to the Cinnamon Bun Fun Run provide the high energy that drives the degree of organization to higher levels accomplishment. CBFR Organizing Committee appreciates this fine volunteer work and has great deal of gratitude for all that volunteers achieve in their efforts.
For the record, the Ladysmith Food Bank received a couple of truckloads of food that weighed out at about 2,300 lbs and brought in about $3,900 in cash donations as a result of the generosity of walkers and runners who participated in the event. The 6th Annual Cinnamon Bun Fun Run was both a success and a learning experience; get ready for the 7th Annual Cinnamon Bun Fun Run as event organizers are already figuring our ways to both welcome more participants and improve their organizational performance.