Running in support of reading

Ten years ago Bernard Maillet set himself the goal of raising $100,000 in ten years for the Chestermere Public Library with Loop Around the Lake.
“I’m really excited for the money we’ve raised,” said Maillet.
With a $1000 donation from Chestermere Bottle Depot, and a cheque coming soon from TD Bank, Maillet’s 10-year fundraising total sits at $96,000.
And while the race is just around the corner, Maillet is confident that, with the community’s support, he’ll be able to reach that finish line.
“I still have another month and a half to go,” he said.
“We’re hoping we can make the goal,” said Maillet.
Loop Around the Lake is on June 24 this year.
Maillet credits the amazing support from the community for the success of Loop Around the Lake.
The bottle depot has been the second biggest supporter of the fundraiser after TD Bank, donating $1000 each year to Loop Around the Lake.
Chestermere Bottle Depot owner Kam Khamba living and working in Chestermere it’s important to support the community that supports them.
“This is just a contribution to a community,” he said, “you’ve got to be a part of it and supporting one of those things which is a good cause.”
Having supported Loop Around the Lake since the start, Khamba said that they, “feel really lucky and we also feel really excited.” As Maillet approaches his goal.
Loop Around the Lake grew out of Maillet’s desire to contribute to society after he came off a crack cocaine addiction.
“When I moved to Chestermere me and my neighbour, Marilyn King, who’s the chair of the library at the time, asked me if there’s anything we can do to do a fundraiser for the Library,” he said, “and I said well lets do a race.”
From that conversation, Loop Around the Lake was born.
“We started with the loop, added a 5 k added a 1 k kids run everybody gets a shirt everybody gets a medal,” said, Maillet.
For more information or to register for this year’s Loop Around the Lake go to www.looparoundthelake.ca.