12th Family Fun Run/Walk The Pearson News

12th Annual Family Fun Run: A Fantastic Day of Community, Fitness, and Support!

submitted on behalf of Lily Sacco and the Fun Run Committee

On Sunday, May 4th, 2025, the 12th Annual Family Fun Run took place at the beautiful new location of Margaret Manson Elementary School in Kirkland.

What a day it was! This spirited event not only brought together families, friends, and community members but also helped raise nearly $3000 to support the Pearson Educational Foundation (PEF), enhancing educational opportunities for local students and schools.

The day began with a warm welcome from Cindy Finn, followed by remarks from Todd Smith, who thanked everyone involved—from participants to the many volunteers and partners. Pearson Educational Foundation worked hard to provide food and beverages for everyone – thanks to their team of volunteer Directors and coordinators Sue Grand and Lisa MacCallum. Kristen Eccles from Clearpoint Elementary led an energizing warm-up before the 2km and 5km races kicked off along the scenic Hydro Quebec Servitude.

Fun, Fitness, and Support for a Good Cause

At 9:15 AM, the 2km race began with an enthusiastic countdown, followed by the runners and walkers taking off! The energy was electric as people of all ages and abilities participated, walking or running along the scenic Hydro Servitude in Kirkland.

As the 5km race kicked off at 10:00 AM, the excitement continued, with Todd Smith and DJ TJ keeping the crowd energized with music, while the event remained fun and supportive for all involved. Emergency medical support was provided by SEMS Montreal, ensuring safety for all participants, with their team stationed nearby.

Throughout the morning, there were also activities for everyone to enjoy, including face painting by Stephanie’s Face Painting, and valuable information about physiotherapy from Lauren Brown at Kinatex. The set-up wouldn’t have been possible without Equipment Services!

The community spirit was alive and well, with Trophées Pointe-Claire contributing to the event’s success, and Captain Mark Whittall and the 690 Lakeshore Cadets showing their continued support. Mike Klaiman from the city of Kirkland also helped in making sure the day ran smoothly. A special shout-out went to Sue Lariviere and the incredible team at Margaret Manson Elementary for their hard work behind the scenes.

A Big Thank You to All

As the day wrapped up, the sense of accomplishment and camaraderie was palpable. Whether they ran, walked, or volunteered, everyone played a part in making the 12th Annual Family Fun Run a massive success. Thanks to your generosity and participation, we raised nearly $3000—an amazing achievement that will directly benefit our schools and students through the work of the Pearson Educational Foundation.

Thank you again to Educational Services and Mat Canavan, along with Judy Kelly, all the administrators and commissioners who came out to the FFR, it meant a lot to have you there!

Thanks Mike Klaiman from the city of Kirkland for supporting the use of the Kirkland Hydro Quebec Servitude for our Family Fun Run.

A big thank you to the Pearson Education Foundation members for bringing an abundance of food and beverages, as well as to Chartwells for providing water and juice.

Thank you to Captain Mark Whittall and the Cadets from Lakeshore Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron for volunteering to cheer on our runners. Their enthusiasm was truly infectious!

Thank you to Julie from communications services for creating the printed materials and to Dan and Simone for taking amazing photos!

A big thank to Caroline Vaillancourt for printing all of our posters!

Thank you to Brianna for coordinating the delivery of the materials needed and organizing the help for setup and cleanup. Keith and Carlos were truly a great help!

And finally, thank you to all our volunteers Sandra, Alexandra, Barry, Sheila, Ryan, Mary, Cynthia, Sue, Deb, Bev, Michael, Tony, Carmela, Anna, and Kelly. You did an amazing job! We appreciate you more than words can say.

Let’s celebrate the success of this event and look forward to another year of community, fun, and support for our children’s education! A huge thank you to everyone who made it possible. We couldn’t have done it without you. See you next year!

For more information on the Pearson Educational Foundation or to learn how you can get involved, visit: https://pef.lbpsb.qc.ca.

Still want to support the cause? It’s not too late to donate: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/11300.