It’s time to tie up your laces at Humber College.
Humber’s Fitness and Health Promotion program hosts its annual 5km run/walk on April 7, the first such event since April 2019.
“We really wanted to instill the idea this year that it’s not just being a race, ” Jacob Saphra, Team Leader of the event’s registration told Humber News, “but it being like us all getting back together as a part, and as a school.”
Carmen Puyo, course instructor and event organizer told Humber News that compared to previous semesters, this gave the program’s third-year students – who usually facilitate this event – an experience.
“I was very determined to make sure that this run happened,” she said, “so I’m excited to give them an experience because I feel that the previous semesters of this course, they didn’t get that experience.”
It is set to take place on Thursday and starts at North Campus’s Parking Lot 4 and the Arboretum and goes from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Participants are able to register here as a single participant or as a team leader/member.
Registration also runs on a pay-what-you-can basis from $5 upwards.
The announcement encourages participants to donate whatever makes the Humber 5km more accessible to them.
Proceeds for the event itself go towards Stella’s Place, which provides free mental health services to young adults aged 16-29.
“This is the first time that the race has been partnered with Stella’s Place,” Saphra said.
“The student body organizing the race decided that, due to the pandemic and its effects on the mental health specifically of young people … [this] would be a good organization to partner with.”
Puyo also told Humber News of their decision to give their proceeds to Stella’s Place, mainly in discussions with her students.
“It was appropriate to do it for a cause that provides that for young adults, and for them, it was closer to home,” she said.
Puyo also mentioned another reason was that Stella’s Place was a much smaller, lesser-known organization in comparison to places like the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
There are even prizes involved, for both the race portion and the raffles.
“Some of our best and most expensive prizes are professional fitness equipment for home gyms from Lebert Fitness,” Saphra told Humber News, referring to one of their partners, “We also have a number of home fit kits to give away.”
“We have some Starbucks merchandise and some FRESHOUSE Juice bar coupons, and we also have some shakers, bottles, and a few other prizes.
Cassandra Yombao, a Biotechnology student said that it’s good that there are more in-person events like the Comeback.
“It’s great that there’s more events, especially since we basically just started in-person classes again,” she said.
“Being in campus is much more fun, and having more events makes it even more fun.”