Long trek to start line for Bella Bella runners
Two ferries and 11 hours of travel lead group to the big race
They live about 400 kilometres north of Vancouver in a remote coastal fishing village, but the hearts of the seven brave students and their two chaperones beat as one with their fellow urban runners who will lace up their running shoes for the Sun Run.
There is no glitzy department store in Bella Bella to outfit them in snazzy apparel and there are no trained specialists in 10- kilometre runs.
But that hasn’t made them hesitate. Like so many practical northerners, they’ve rolled up their sleeves and come up with their own unique way to take part in one of the biggest community runs on the planet.
Lately, students have been bagging groceries in the town’s one store to raise money for their first foray to the big city run. They take turns. Sometimes it’s just a few nickels and dimes. But they are grateful for every penny, since getting here is no easy journey. It involves leaving about 4 a. m. and taking two ferries.
Kindergarten teacher Sharon Wilson, who is one of two chaperones accompanying the students and taking part in the run, estimates it takes 11 hours of travel — one way — not including stops along the way. But they can’t wait.
The students began training by getting ready for the Terry Fox run in September. They started out small, running 20 minutes a day. The weather wasn’t great. But then, as Wilson reminded the students, neither was it always great when Terry Fox ran his epic Marathon of Hope in 1980.
During a phone call to Bella Bella with Wilson, she pauses when asked why the students and chaperones want to take part in the Sun Run. The answer is both simple and complex.
Like many First Nations communities, Bella Bella has a high diabetes rate. Hence, there is a need and desire to adopt healthier lifestyles. As well, the community is isolated, with little in the way of extracurricular activities. Then comes the simplest answer of all: some of the kids are just great runners, she says with a laugh, taking joy in the whims of her young proteges.
The trip is also an exposure to the outside world. The group plans to visit Stanley Park, perhaps cycling around the seawall, and visit Nanaimo, where they’ll bowl and take a dip in a wave pool. Such things don’t exist in Bella Bella.
But the main thing is the run. As they take practice runs through town, there are thumbs- ups and smiles. It’s a sure sign this community, which has seen hard times, is on the right track.
“We’re getting very excited,” said Wilson.