The annual Fort Town Night Run has been turned into a virtual run.
The event was originally set to take place this weekend, but Mayor Brett Todd says concerns about the Fort Town Night Run were registered by senior officials with the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit during the town’s Municipal Emergency Control Group meeting last Friday.
“These concerns were entirely due to the surge in COVID-19 cases and the number of runners coming from virus hotspots to Prescott for the event. They were not about the Fort Town Night Run organizers or their diligent plans to ensure the health and safety of all participants and town residents.”
Todd says the concerns grew bigger recently because of the rising number of virus cases and changes in provincial regulations on public gathering sizes implemented in our region on Saturday.
More meetings were held with the town, OPP, and the health unit, according to Todd.
“All attendees fully supported a request by Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paula Stewart of the run organizers to require only participants to attend (meaning no added friends or family), or to not allow participants from the virus hotspots in Ottawa and Toronto. With approximately 350 people registered for the run, including around 115 from Ottawa and Toronto, this was seen as a necessary change to avoid larger gatherings in Prescott at the run site.”
Todd says the organizers made the decision not to proceed with the actual Fort Town Night Run, and to turn it into a virtual run. Todd fully supports and understands their decision and thanks lead organizers Michel and Julie Larose and their team of volunteers for their dedication to health and safety.
Julie Larose says everyone who has already registered for the Fort Town Night Run will be transferred to the virtual run as their t-shirt and medal has already been ordered. They will get their t-shirt, medal and swag bag delivered. Participants can run in the location of their choice and can send their time and pictures of themselves running or dressed up to organizers. Runners have up to two weeks to upload before organizers make the decision on prizes and virtual run registration is happening until Sunday (September 27th), according to Larose.
“We are so grateful for the runners and the volunteers that have decided to support us this year. We have put a lot of hard work into trying to do something that would be good for the community and (it’s) disappointing that due to circumstances outside of our control we’ve had to make this decision, but the support that we’ve received from the runners and volunteers, even after making this decision, has been very touching.”
Larose says virtual runners will be receiving a video of the entire course that organizers will be filming to enjoy Prescott and see the decorations businesses have been putting up in windows.