More than 500 people participated in Yellowknife’s first annual colour run on Saturday.
Tham Ncube, who helped plan the run and also sits on the board of Inclusion NWT, said tickets were selling so quickly that organizers were forced to keep adjusting the cap. Within a week, the first batch of tickets was gone.
Even after doubling the initial 150 tickets, the event still sold out.
“They were gone within the next two weeks,” Ncube told Cabin Radio. “We pushed it up to 400. They were gone in the next week. Now, this event, the total number of attendees is 506 people, and we are thankful. We are more than grateful to Yellowknife for embracing us.”
The run was inspired by a trip Ncube took to Calgary, where he joined a similar gathering and saw how much fun families and runners of all levels were having. Realizing other major cities already had their own versions, he began wondering why Yellowknife didn’t.
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Ncube then reached out to friends, formed a small planning group, and slowly brought the event to life. Twenty-eight volunteers helped along the 3km route, from the City Hall parking lot at the start to the multiplex arena at the finish line.
“It’s been hectic. I didn’t sleep last night. But we’re here now, and what I see here at the finish line, all I can be is grateful,” he said.
Tickets were kept deliberately low at $10 for adults and $5 for children, which meant the event could only raise about $5,000 after costs. All funds raised were donated to Inclusion NWT, an organization providing services for residents with disabilities and their families.
Ncube said ticket prices might increase slightly next year, while remaining affordable, to help raise more money.
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The finish line arch came from Canadian Tire, while the Lakeshore Co-op, Inder’s Your Independent Grocer, Arctic Tours Canada and several smaller businesses donated supplies and helped support volunteers.
“It’s been an amazing turnout and our hope is that next year we just blow this out of the water. I mean, the city needs to perhaps look for a bigger venue for us,” he said.
“A week or so ago we were saying, ‘How are we going to do this guys? We now have 400 people.’ … I think this is probably the establishment of one of the events that’s going to be a milestone in Yellowknife. It is going to be here for years to come. That’s our belief and that’s what we hope.”
