The third annual HonouRun was held on Nov. 5 and 6. The event is a fundraiser for, “To the Stan and Back”. The “Stan” refers to Afghanistan. The group behind the run provides support for retired and serving Canadian Armed Forces as well as frontline responders. From the left to right are: Ian Callan, Marc Labossiere, and Rene Bourget. The runners are seen just east of the Upper Canada Village on Nov. 6 during the Sunday portion of the HonouRun.

LONG SAULT – Ian Callan, a marathon runner known for his fundraising runs to the Terry Fox Memorial in Ottawa, is holding the 3rd annual HonouRun on Nov. 5 and 6. Callan explained it was also held in 2019, 2020 and this year but he had an injury preventing his holding it in 2021.

This year, as in the past, the event is a fundraiser for “To the Stan and Back”, with “Stan” used as an abbreviation for Afghanistan. This organization has been providing support for retired and serving Canadian Armed Forces as well as frontline responders such as firefighters, police, and emergency services’ people.

It supports programs aiding those suffering from PTSD, including the provision of service dogs, or experiencing homelessness or therapy for mental health issues resulting from their service.

Information on the event’s Facebook page explains how the HonouRun, a 100km run held over two days, is held “to honour veterans, military personnel and first responders” and to raise awareness and funds “for mental health initiatives for the veteran and first responder communities.”

On Nov. 5, a beautiful fall day, the run began at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 423 in Alexandria and continued to the Lancaster Cenotaph and EMT/Fire Hall before continuing to the Williamstown Cenotaph, then to the Cornwall Cenotaph, with the day’s run concluding at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 297 in Cornwall.

On Sunday, the HonourRun began early in the morning at the cenotaph in Morrisburg and continued for the most part along Highway 2, with stops at the Ingleside Cenotaph, continuing to the cenotaph located in Ault Park, home to the Lost Villages Museum, near Long Sault with the run concluding at RCL Branch 297 in Cornwall, after stopping at the Cornwall Cenotaph in the early afternoon.

On Sunday, Callan was accompanied by 10-year-old Jack Daye for a 25 km segment of the run. His mother Dara, who is a colleague of Callan’s at Longue Sault Public School, explained Jack became interested in the run and decided to participate. He had a goal of $500 to raise and has surpassed this goal raising over $1,500 for “To the Stan and Back” as of Nov. 2. Dara continued, Jack has been training for the event by running with Callan and joined him at the Ingleside Cenotaph on Sunday and continued to Long Sault and Cornwall.

Dara mentioned how students at LSPS have created special rocks for Callan to distribute along his run.   After painting the rocks, students made a poppy using their fingerprints and then wrote a message on the back of each one. Students from other schools along the running route, Rothwell-Osnabruck, Williamstown Public and Notre-Dame joined students from Longue Sault in sharing their appreciation with letters and cards. These messages of thanks were distributed by the runners during the event.