April 15, 2020

RAINFOREST TRAIL RUN FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 CANCELLED

COVID-19 FORCES DELAY OF THE RAINFOREST RAIL RUN UNTIL 2021


April 15, 2020

VANCOUVER -- Mitigation measures enacted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic have forced organizers of the Rainforest Trail Run in Burnaby’s Central Park to cancel the event for 2020.


The inaugural 5K walk/run, with a focus on stimulating physical activity among people in local Indigenous communities, was staged in September last year and attracted more than 400 entries. This year’s event, which was scheduled for Sept. 27,  was to include both 5K and 10K distances and an expanded festival celebrating the heritage of Canada’s Indigineous cultures.


Doug Clement, president of the Achilles International Track and Field Society, which organizes the event, said continued uncertainty over how long physical distancing guidelines would stay in place to limit the spread of Covid-19 forced the society to make the tough decision to shut down the event for 2020.


“With the safety of our community being at risk, our group has made this decision because the duration of lockdown is at this time uncertain,” said Clement.


The Achilles Society earlier had to cancel its long-running Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic, which was scheduled for May 30 at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.


The Jerome often featured some of Canada’s most accomplished track and field athletes, including Olympic medalists Andre De Grasse, Damian Warner and Aaron Brown and World Championship medalists Melissa Bishop and Brianne Thiesen-Eaton. And, with the inclusion of elementary school relay races, the meet was seen as a tremendous opportunity to promote the sport.


Clement said the plan is to come back strong in 2021 with both events, while also noting that the Tokyo Olympics have been rescheduled for 2021 and the World Athletics Championships for 2022 in Eugene, Ore.


“Our group remains strongly committed to the sport and to providing a world-class event for Canadian athletes gearing up to represent our country at the Olympics and World Championships,” said Clement.


“And we look forward to continuing next year the association with various Indigenous groups, including the First Nations Health Authority, in building the Rainforest Trail Run into an event that brings communities together to celebrate First Nations and encourage those in that community to live healthy, active lives.”


Achilles wants to thank its many sponsors of the Harry Jerome and the Rainforest Trail Run for their continued support and understanding during this challenging period. The Society looks forward to marketing with them again in 2021

.-30

-For Further information contact Doug Clement (604-261-6220)Gary Kingston, Achilles media relations(604-329-2104)

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