KIM BURTON-SCHRAM
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
The 8th annual Community Run was held in Alexandria on September 27, 2025. This is Community Living Glengarry’s largest fundraiser, with over 500 runners participating in the various distances that suit them, from 1km to 10km. Runners come from all over, some as far as Ottawa, along with many local athletes and students, all supporting the Run.
The Community Run is organized by director Sophie Ranger Poirier, who has managed the Run since its inception 8 years ago. The Run is an exciting event for everyone, starting off with relay races between teams from North & South Glengarry, as well as the Char Lan Skating Club & the Athletic Bar. South Glengarry and the Athletic Bar won their heats. With cheers and blasts of confetti by some of the Glengarry Brigade hockey team, each group of runners, as young as two-years old and as senior as 83-years old, set off on their chosen run length. And for those that were unable to run, volunteers pushed wheelchairs or peddled specially designed bicycles to include everyone in the fun.
And this year, the Hippocampe bike was part of the Run, an all-terrain specialty wheelchair that allows users with mobility challenges to access trails, sandy beaches and pathways where regular wheelchairs or walkers can get stuck. The Hippocampe bike has an umbrella for rainy days and even converts to accommodate skis for snow, with a cozy seat cover to keep users warm. The Hippocampe bike was a long-awaited and much appreciated equipment addition to Community Living Glengarry, funded through a community grant by Dejardins, who continues to be the biggest sponsor for the Community Run.
Community Living Glengarry is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of services to people with intellectual disabilities. Primarily funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services of Ontario, Community Living Glengarry provides caring and safe support to each person participating in its programs, establishing opportunities for inclusion and belonging. Staff at Community Living Glengarry are trained in CPR, crisis intervention & prevention, along with awareness on abuse and prevention. It is a member of Community Living Ontario, an organization that advocates on behalf of over 250,000 people with intellectual disabilities and their families in the province.
In 2025, the Community Run in Glengarry had 558 runners raising funds for Community Living’s local programs along with some bespoke benches for the town of Alexandria. People who didn’t participate in the Run but want to help support Community Living Glengarry, can donate directly by visiting their website at www.clglen.on.ca
L’article 8<sup>th</sup> Annual Community Run in Alexandria est apparu en premier sur Cornwall Seaway News.
