More than 5,000 students hit the trails in Red Deer yesterday, for the annual Dawe Run.

Two schools hosted the run, G.H. Dawe and St. Patrick’s Community School, with the route spanning three kilometres from Heritage Ranch to Bower Ponds.

The event hit a significant milestone — it is now 40 years old.

Sue Carmichael, principal at G.H. Dawe, is the chief organizer. She doesn’t know how the event started but sees many reasons why people keep it going.

“It’s a great tradition. People say that traditions keep people together and I think it’s something kids look forward to every year,” Carmichael said.

“They want to beat their goal from the previous year. It’s a great time to meet friends that you haven’t seen, especially if you switch schools, or teachers. Parents are here to cheer their kids on. There’s lots of wonderful reasons why it’s kept on.”

This was Carmichael’s sixth year organizing. While St. Pat’s took care of the starting line, she was at the finish.

“It’s a lot of work. That’s why I have wrinkles and grey hair,” she said. “It’s food for the volunteers, organizing volunteers so you have enough people on bikes, enough people manning different stations. porta-potties, phoning for commissionaires.”