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Decked out in their brightest and most vibrant garb, racers of all ages ran through the 30th annual Pride and Remembrance Run held in downtown Toronto Saturday.
The run is one of the first events taking place during the city’s jam-packed Pride weekend celebrations.
For founder Alan Belaiche, this year is an emotional one looking back at three decades of organizing the event. He said the race started in honour of two close friends, one with AIDS and another struggling from diabetes complications.
“It’s amazing how quickly with a blink of an eye, 30 years have passed,” he said.
Belaiche said the first Pride and Remembrance Run raised $8,000 with 320 participants, but this year they hit a new record and raised over $412,000 for four charities: The 519, Casey House, Canvas Programs and the Pride Remembrance Foundation.
In tears, he shared how grateful he was to the community for taking part in the event.
“This run has always been about community and acceptance. We run whatever the weather, whatever your physical shape and we accept everyone,” said Belaiche.
Runners of all ages, decked out in vibrant colours, set off at the 30th annual Pride and Remembrance Run on Saturday morning. (Brice Petitfils/CBC)Running for joy, remembrance and hope: racer
Lisa Sweetman, a Pride Run ambassador this year, said she’s participating in the race in-person for the first time with her wife and two kids. She said she’s joined before when the race was virtual during the pandemic.
“It’s important for me to be here today because this is a community that we’re a big part of,” she said. “We’re here for joy, celebration and remembrance and everything that came before and all the hope we have after.”
Runner Bernie Thompson said they started running a few years ago after their identical twin sister died from cancer. Now at the age of 80, they said they’re still having fun running with the community.
Thompson said they first ran in 2017 as a straight person. But in 2018, they started identifying as non-binary and have joined all subsequent Pride Runs under that identity.
“[Running] makes me feel joyful,” they said. “It’s good for my health and mentally too.”
Amongst the crowd this year was Mayor Olivia Chow, who said she participates to remember those who have passed from AIDS, to advocate for those diagnosed with it and to celebrate the kick off to Pride weekend.