Running and helping others have always been close to Kagan Kneen’s heart.
Read more: Running for Shelter crosses finish line
The executive director of the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter ran from the B.C./Alberta border last year capping off a nearly 1,300-kilometre trek in Wroxton, Sask.
Dan Gray Meridian Source
Running for Shelter is back for a second year and will look quite different.
“We were very successful with the Coldest Night of the Year this past February,” said Kneen of the annual fundraiser for the men’s shelter. “So, we figured, why not make running for shelter a second annual-type event.
“We are going to have two fundraisers every single year. It’ll always be Coldest Night of the Year and Running for Shelter.”
Running for Shelter will now be a 5 kilometre walk/run at Bud Miller All Seasons Park.
The goal is to make fundraiser more consistent and familiarize people with them more.
“We just wanted to have something from a consistency perspective so the community is aware, as well as an opportunity for us to gain capital funds for the new building,” he said.
The event will take place at Bud Miller on Sept. 6 to coincide with Recovery Week.
“We wanted to partner with Recovery Week, with Residents in Recovery,” said Kneen. “Their wind up for Recovery Week is happening on Sept. 6 at Bud Miller.
“We tried to arrange it so the walk or run would happen at 11 a.m. The barbecue for Recovery Week is going to be at the amphitheatre starting at 11:30 a.m.”
Funds from this year’s run will support to a new building for the shelter.
“What we’re actually looking at doing is a bit of a pivot and change from focusing on expanding the shelter to actually opening up transitional housing,” he said, noting the issue in Lloydminster is a lack of available housing.
“I’ve realized in talking to other shelter CEOs and executive directors, yes, more shelter space is required,” he said. “But, the issue, especially in the City of Lloydminster, is the fact we don’t have enough housing solutions.”
Kneen wants to work with local organizations to provide clients the best route to a solution.
“Having caseworkers working with the individuals, working with places like Thorpe Recovery so they can go get treatment,” he said. “As soon as they’re finished treatment, they’ll have somewhere safe to go and continue on that recovery journey.”
He says having more transitional housing available is pivotal to someone’s recovery.
“Having more transitional housing available, we’ll be able to help people become more successful in that recovery journey,” said Kneen. “We’ve obviously done significant changes to how we operate as a shelter and we truly are housing focused. We want to help people on that recovery journey to get where they need to be.”
Those looking to get involved this year can register and donate online.
“You can just go to LloydminsterShelter.com and go under the events. If you choose Running for Shelter, there’s an opportunity for you to donate directly to the event itself,” he said, noting you can donate to individual teams or individual participants.
Teams or individuals can register for $50 for the 5 km walk/run and receive a T-shirt and medal. Those that raise $100 will get free race entry with their exclusive T-shirt and medal.
Donations and registration can all be done at lloydminstershelter.com/events.
Read more: Avid Lloydminster runner sets out to fundraise for Men’s Shelter
