Ted's Run for Literacy

Vision: Ted’s Run for Literacy’s vision is to break the cycle of childhood poverty by supporting grassroots, not for profit organizations that promote environments in which children flourish mentally and physically.

Mission: Ted’s Run for Literacy exists to support programming for school aged children which places a high priority on literacy and encourages engagement in play and physical activities that promote positive mental health, resilience, and leadership.

Ted’s Run for Literacy was established in 2010 following the death of Ted Swain on May 3rd, 2009. Ted was a passionate teacher of English at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg. He was also a dedicated running coach who nurtured hundreds of novice runners. Ted is remembered fondly by the running community with whom he identified to his last step. To date, Ted’s Run for Literacy has raised many tens of thousands of dollars to help break the cycle of childhood poverty. We are indeed, the little race that could.

With your help, we are committed to donating between $6000 and $8000 annually to the following programs.

Proceeds generated from Ted’s Run for Literacy supports CanU. CanU, the University of Can, embraces the rich diversity and sees the great potential of Winnipeg’s youth. CanU provides hundreds of kids with remarkable opportunities for learning and leadership. Can U is an after school program that inspires hope and confidence in Winnipeg children. The “big ideas” of CanU are: Literacy, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Mentorship, and Hope & Confidence.

Ted’s Run for Literacy is pleased to support Learn & Play. The intent of Learn & Play is to help under resourced 1 to 5 year olds for nursery school and kindergarten. Learn & Play promotes positive interactions between parents and their children which help nurtures literacy and numeracy skills. When a child learns alongside their parents they improve their future opportunities and build stronger family and community connections. Learn & Play is overseen by The Winnipeg Foundation and financially supported by Ted’s Run for Literacy.

Ted’s Run for Literacy is pleased to announce our Covid-19 restrictions for our event on September 26th.

We take considerable pride in setting high standards in terms of providing a safe and enjoyable race day experience for all participants including runners, volunteers, sponsors, and board members. We strongly believe the following protocols are socially responsible, reasonable, and will minimize the risk associated with the further spread of Covid-19.

All participants including runners, volunteers, and board members will need to show proof of double vaccination. Runners and volunteers will present their Immunization Card or digital QR Code at kit pickup or earlier. Board members will self-disclose.

• Runners will wear a mask at the start/ finish line (it may be removed while running).
• Runners are asked to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before gun-time and vacate the site within 15 minutes of finishing.
• If unable to socially distance, all participants including runners, spectators, volunteers, and board members are asked to wear a mask.
• The awards ceremony will be virtual.
• Food distribution will be in a ‘go-bag’ (i.e., food will be preselected and bagged by a volunteer).
• Medals will be individually wrapped and handled minimally.
• Pre-run group warm-up is cancelled (runners are encouraged to warm up in a socially distanced manner).
• The 2 km event is cancelled.
• Race Day registration is cancelled.
• Dry Clothes drop-off is cancelled.

Further to the above, we are limiting registration for our in-person event. Presently, our registration is capped at 50 participants. If Winnipeg’s Covid-19 case count remains low through mid-September, we will increase registration to 100 participants and may increase to 150 participants (about 50% of our typical registration number).

We urge all, especially runners enrolled in the MRA Classic Series, to register now. We will sell out, possibly three times!

Now for the good news. Our race will be professionally timed and will cater exclusively to the 5 km and 10 km runners. We have unique medals, music, two paramedics and one medical doctor onsite, and the famous Fubuki Daiko Drummers will drum you home!

We are the little race that could… with your support, we will be the little race that did!

Be safe, be kind, be smart.

Michael Bennett

Race Director, Ted’s Run for Literacy