Home News by Region Langford Rainy day run for Sarah Beckett

Rainy day run for Sarah Beckett

Sarah Beckett Memorial Run, April 13 2019
Sarah Beckett Memorial Run gets started in a bit of rain on Saturday, April 13, 2019 [West Shore Voice News photo by Mary P Brooke]
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Saturday, April 13, 2019 ~ LANGFORD

by Mary P Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News

An overcast sky with a slight drizzle falling on the crowd was a fitting weather temperament for today’s Sarah Beckett Memorial 5km walk/run in Langford.

Crowding in behind Belmont Secondary School for the race start ahead of 10 am were local dignitaries, West Shore RCMP, first responders, and a wide cross-section of the west shore community. There was a bit of a ‘business fair’ with booths set up on the artificial turf field and school patio representing businesses and local organizations.

Sarah Beckett Memorial Run, Langford Mayor Stew Young, Todd Preston, Brad Aschenbrenner, Ed Bain
Sarah Beckett Memorial Run launch on Saturday April 13, 2019: Langford Mayor Stew Young on the platform with media host Ed Bain (100.3 The Q). West Shore RCMP Detachment Commander Todd Preston and Brad Aschenbrenner (husband of the late Cst Beckett) looked on [West Shore Voice News photo ~ Mary P Brooke]

Langford Mayor Stew Young and West Shore RCMP Detachment Commander Todd Preston were introduced by Ed Bain of 100.3 The Q to make brief remarks to the crowd.

Mayor Young commended the community for backing the RCMP and Sarah Beckett’s family today for the run, and over the past few years since the tragic crash that took the life of Cst Beckett while on duty on the streets of Langford.

Detachment Commander Preston acknowledged the contributions and commitment of everyone involved.

This event is in memory of Cst Sarah Beckett who was killed in the line of duty on April 5, 2016. The money raised will be donated to the Constable Sarah Beckett Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the Capital Regional District (CRD) Traffic Safety Commission.

Over 900 people registered for the event at $50 (early bird) or $55 (later registration, including on the ground today), bringing the incoming funds to over $45,000 toward the scholarship fund.

About 500 runners/walkers showed up on this race day to make their way through the streets of Westhills [see route map], with many others doing a virtual run and sending in their race photo via social media to
#RunforBeckett.

Sarah Beckett run, Dean Jantzen, Gordie Logan
Colwood Councillors Dean Jantzen and Gordie Logan joined the Sarah Beckett Memorial Walk/Run [West Shore Voice News photo]

Among the VIP runners were Colwood Councillors Dean Jantzen and Gordie Logan. SD62 Vice-Chair Dianna Seaton was helping out at the West Shore Rotary booth, helping with fundraising.

Many runners wore their Sarah Beckett T-Shirts that bear her 5-digit officer badge number of 51939 and the names of event sponsors including the City of Langford, CHEK News, 100.3 The Q, The Zone 91.3, Victoria HarbourCats, Western Speedy, Times Colonist, Shelly O’Connor & Associates, Westshore Dental Centre, West Bay Mechanical Ltd, Pearlman Lindholm Barristers & Solicitors, Westshore Towing and more.

Sarah Beckett Memorial Run, April 2019, T-shirts
Runners wearing event T-shirts at the Sarah Beckett Memorial Run [West Shore Voice News photo]

The run winners acknowledgement around 1 pm will then see the event wrap up around 2 pm.

The overall event mood was upbeat and supportive for the family, with a sense of pride in bringing such a crowd together to both remember and look forward.