Over 6,000 ladies have participated in the Red Deer Primary Care Networks annual Women's Fun Run since its inception in 2012, and they are planning this years to be their biggest run yet.

The Fun Run invites women of all ages to take part in the 10, 5, 3, or 1 km run or walk, with activities and shorter runs for kids, along with a Mom and Son walk to include some men in the Mother’s Day weekend activity.

Money raised this year will go towards the Mustard Seeds School Lunch Program, which provides lunches to more 380 students from 30 schools in Red Deer.

Event Coordinator for the Fun Run Val Jensen says these two organizations both work to promote healthy living, starting with healthy meals during the day.

“Because children need to eat, period, and here in Red Deer we have a big homelessness situation, we have a lot of vulnerable citizens, and with the Mustard Seed coming in and taking over (the school lunch program) from Loaves and Fishes, they’ve had a huge impact on that program. You can’t learn if your brain is hungry, if your body is hungry, how do you learn?”

The Mustard Seed took over the School Lunch program from Loaves and Fishes in the summer of 2016.

Jensen says the school lunch program was an obvious choice for the PCN, which promotes healthy living by encouraging people to use community assets.

“Because of the need in the community, and because it’s for children. If we can get children active at a young age, that’s our goal. And if we need to feed a child, that’s also a goal.”

The Women's Fun Run is on Saturday May 12th at the Lindsay Thurber High School Track and McKenzie Trails.

A huge grand prize this year for the 10 participates who raise the most money, as they will be entered into a  draw to w

in a 4 month or 8,000Km lease on a brand new Cadillac ATS-V, thanks to Garrett Scott and Kipp Scott GMC Cadillac Buick.

For more information, you can check out womensfunrun.com.

Related Stories:

Mustard Seed RD Receives Early Xmas Gift From Scottsville Auto Group

Mustard Seed School Lunch Program Feeds Almost 400 Students Daily