Members of the Triple Terrain Trail Trekkers present Assistant Principal and Teacher at Avondale school, Michelle Elliott (pictures far right), with a cheque worth $1,500 and running shoes to help students purchase much needed indoor or outdoor shoes. Photo Credit: Shane Clausing

By Shane Clausing

Community

Local school gifted new running shoes from Grande Prairie running group

Apr 2, 2021 | 7:00 AM

Students at Avondale school were the recipients of a surprise from the Triple Terrain Trail Trekkers running/walking group on April 1.

The Triple Terrain Trail Trekkers have been an established running/walking group in the Grande Prairie area for the last five years.

Over that time, the group has fundraised over $40,000 from various running initiatives to help support local not-for-profit organizations in the Swan City.

For the month of March, the Trekkers organized the “KICKS Into Spring” challenge with the goal of raising money for an organization in the community that was in need of help.

“Since COVID started we have been running a few virtual events,” said Krista Mitchell with the Triple Terrain Trail Trekkers.

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“In March, we decided to do ‘KICKS Into Spring’ which was a colouring contest for local runners and walkers. They had to run different distances each day for 22 days and we decided to donate the money (raised) to a school in Grande Prairie that we know could use the funds.”

In total, the group was able to raise 30 pairs of running shoes and fundraise nearly $1,500 for students at Avondale School.

Avondale is home to many students who come from low-income families who may not be able to afford proper footwear for their children, which is why the Trekkers thought this would be the perfect school to support.

Michelle Elliott is an Assistant Principal and Teacher at Avondale school. She says the donation caught her and the rest of the staff members by surprise.

“I was shocked, surprised and so appreciative. So many students at our school are in need of shoes, whether its winter boots, indoor shoes or outdoor shoes. Often times we purchase shoes out of our school money when families can’t afford them. This will help us tremendously.”

Elliott tells EverythingGP this donation will help the over 120 students that the school serves.

“They (the kids) are stoked. They are so excited knowing that come winter they’ll have winter boots and if they need new indoor shoes, we can get those for them. It’ll help our whole school from K-6. The money donation would then help us go purchase shoes as kids need them and then we can get their sizes that they need as well.”

Following the ‘KICKS into Spring’ event, Mitchell says the Triple Trekkers have now raised over $12,000 for non-profit organizations since COVID-19 began. Over 1,500 people in Grande Prairie have participated in running and walking events to help raise money for the community.

Those interested in learning more about the Trekkers can do so by joining their Facebook group.