News Article

Lighting the way for a good cause


7/3/2008 1:42:40 PM


College of the North Atlantic has entered two teams in the 2008 Race to the Sea. The annual race takes place in August. Photo courtesy of the Gulf News.

Employees at College of the North Atlantic (CNA) are feeling the community spirit.

Two college teams consisting of 11 members each have been entered in Race to the Sea, an annual relay to raise money for lighthouses on the southwest coast of the province.

The race takes place Aug. 8-9 and begins at the Cape Anguille Lighthouse and ends at the Rose Blanche Lighthouse.

According to the Race to the Sea website, the “Race combines adventure, fitness and tourism to promote the local area and enhance the local economy. The teams, along with support people, spouses and others, will stay in the local accommodations, eat at the local restaurants, buy gas, visit the local stores and spent money in the zone. This is for the most part new money in the community; hence, the race has important implications to the economy of Zone 10.”

Race to the Sea began in 2004, however this is the first time CNA has entered.
The race hopes to incorporate healthy living choices – something that is also important to CNA.

“The race has proven to be a wonderful experience with an average of approximately 150 runners participating in past years,” says Jan Peddle, campus administrator of Port aux Basques campus. “This year the organizers are anticipating as many as 200. We have entered a CNA team in the race with representatives from across the province.”

The race is a relay comprised of 11 stages ranging in length from 7.8 km to 15.7 kilometres that vary from primarily flat to very hilly terrain.

“The route links the four major lighthouses on the southwest coast of the province and offers amazing photo opportunities of the ocean, mountains, and local scenery,” says Peddle.

The second team is comprised of employees from Headquarters/Bay St. George campus.

“Given the level of interest in the Race to the Sea in this area, we decided to enter a college team representing Bay St. George campus/Headquarters,” says Deidre Dunne, Labour Relations Officer.

“To prepare for the event, we started biweekly runs for anyone wishing to participate for the purpose of the race or for the fun of it. Now most of our team members are running three or four times per week. As well, a number of us are participating in a newly-formed local running club.”

She says the race has been a great motivation.

“This is certainly great for overall health and wellness and it’s wonderful that our employer believes the same by sponsoring our team.”

The southwest coast of the province is home to four lighthouses. The 110km run will include the four as part of the relay route; the race concludes at Rose Blanche Lighthouse, which is a reconstructed 18th century granite structure.

“In the beginning, the race was a push for us to get off the couch, as none of us were serious runners,” continues Dunne.

“We needed motivation and Race to the Sea gave us that. For some of us, this is the first time running in general. We’re not a competitive team but we’re motivated and it’s great to encourage each other and be part of a team. Running has been a life change for some members and I have heard some already talking about other races.”

Race to the Sea is open to anyone over 16 – an 11 member team with a captain is mandatory. If you are not part of a team you can still register and organizers will attempt to add you to a team that may need more runners. Registration costs are $35 for an individual, and $350 for a team of 11 runners.

For more information or to register for this exciting event, please contact Sandra Piercey or Randi Alexander at 709.955.3051 or by email at racetothesea@gmail.com. You can also check out the website at http://www.racetothesea.codroyvalleycu.com/Default.asp.

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For more information contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
Stephenville, NL
(709) 643-6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca