Their costumes were simple: pointy hats, painted noses, furry ears, and a few pair of antlers accessorizing their running shoes and black leggings.
Next year, the 91原创 women vow their outfits will be much more elaborate, and so to will their fundraising efforts leading up to the annual Campbell Valley Wine Run.
In the meantime, however, the five-member 鈥渟ister鈥� team 鈥� dubbed Party Animals 鈥� have committed to making this charity event an annual family function. In fact, they鈥檙e hoping to bring out more people and raise much more money to help the Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities (PRDA) next time around.
They were among hundreds of runners and walkers who took part in the fundraiser at High Point Estates in South 91原创 this morning.
The event featured a 15-km fun run and 5-km walk through the nearby Campbell Valley Regional Park and area. It includes stops at local wineries, where runners could sample their vintages and even purchase wines (that were then delivered to High Point for them). The day culminated in a burgers and wine lunch back at High Point.
鈥淚t was so much fun,鈥� Jennifer Prodanuk said of her inaugural Campbell Valley Wine Run.
She and the 鈥渇amily outcast party animals鈥� (Lisa and Val Prodanuk, Treena Barbour, and Vera Teperto) heard about the event through social media. And, unfamiliar with the run or its cause, they thought it 鈥渟ounded like fun,鈥� Jennifer said.
It was a perfect fit, she added, noting that 鈥渄rinking wine is our hobby.鈥�
It may have been the first time out for the Party Animals, but it definitely won鈥檛 be their last.
This was the sixth annual wine run, with 100 per cent of all money raised going to PRDA 鈥� a 91原创 organization providing therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.
With an estimated $20,000 raised for the charity at Sunday鈥檚 event, this annual run has raised in excess of $100,000 for PRDA since its inception, announced event founder and organizer Patrick Murphy.
鈥淲e had the support of 400 people who came out to register for the run,鈥� he said. 鈥淰ery competitive. And the costumes鈥� I loved the costumes.鈥�
The best individual costume prize went to a woman dressed up as a birthday cake, with the Special Occasions team. She won a one hour ride with Sky Helicopters.
There was also an 鈥渦nsung hero鈥� prize given to a woman who ran the entire trek in a 鈥渕assive inflatable cow鈥� costume.
鈥淎nd, I鈥檓 telling you the team competition was 91原创enal,鈥� Murphy said, noting Team Skull Faces took top prize of a $500 gift certificate for the local wineries: Township 7 Vineyard & Winery, Chaberton Estate Winery, Glass House Estate Winery, Backyard Vineyards, and Vista D鈥橭ro.
鈥淎ll of our wineries are supporting the cause for PRDA,鈥� he said, himself representing Vista D鈥橭ro Farms & Winery.
Every year, the event continues to grow but it can鈥檛 grow too much more, Murphy said.
鈥淲e had just under 400. That was the most ever, but we鈥檙e not trying to compete with The Sun Run or anything,鈥� he said, noting they cap registration at 400 because the wineries couldn鈥檛 handle more than that number in such a short time.
鈥淭hese are just people who want to come out and have fun, as you can tell by the efforts people make on their costumes鈥urs is just a big social event,鈥� he said. 鈥淩eally, this is the community coming together to support PRDA and have fun.鈥�
This year鈥檚 wine run attracting some runners from Kelowna, Williams Lake, Prince George, and three couples from London, England, but was primarily made up of runners and walkers from throughout the Lower Mainland 鈥� especially 91原创 and Surrey.
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