There's no stopping these walkers

Pam Linklater (center) cuts the ribbon at Selkirk’s fifth annual Mother’s Day Run / Walk on Sunday at the Waterfront.

By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record 

Moms were honoured and money was raised for three great communities causes during the fifth annual Mother’s Day Run / Walk on Sunday.

A small, but motivated group of people braved Sunday’s gloomy weather and either walked or ran down Eveline Street before making their way back to the Waterfront.

Pam Linklater, a Second World War veteran, was the Queen Mother for the walk.

Linklater, 94, had the honour of cutting the ribbon before participants took off.

Linklater was unable to walk down Eveline, but made a brief stroll at the Waterfront with her walker.

She said it’s great moms are honoured at the walk.

“That’s a good idea,” she said.

Coun. Darlene Swiderski was impressed with the older participants who came out to the walk.

“I think it’s just wonderful especially when you see the 90 and 100 year-olds walking,” Swiderski said.

Swiderski is the executive director of Selkirk Community Renewal Corporation, one of three organizations that will receive proceeds from Sunday’s event. 

Swiderski said any funds the Corporation receives will be allocated to grants community organizations can apply for, and money will also go towards grants homeowners can apply for when they are fixing up the exterior of their homes.

“All of the money we get goes back to the community,” Swiderski said.

Funds raised were also going to the new Kirstin Sutherland Fund.

Sutherland died in a car accident last year, and the fund is meant to honour her memory. She was 27.

Funds from Sunday were also going towards the Sean Nicol Legacy Fund. Nicol was a Selkirk resident who passed away suddenly at the age of 25.

He was passionate about helping people living with intellectual disabilities and the fund is also meant to honour and keep his spirit alive. 

About two-dozen people either walked or ran on Sunday.  

Organizer Linda Rosser said the number of participants fluctuates every year, but this year numbers were really low.

“It’s an up and down thing,” Rosser said.

Rosser said plans are already in the works to make next year’s event bigger and better.

She said the Running Room will be on site to make the event more official and a pancake breakfast will return to the Walk / Run next year.

“We’re going to bring that back big time,” Rosser said.

 -- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition May 14 2015 p.2