Kristen Wheaton Clayton, New Brunswick Provincial Director for the Canadian Transplant Association shows off race kits for participants registered in this year's Transplant Trot happening in Saint John on Saturday. (CHSJ)
The Transplant Trot, a run-walk event in support of The Canadian Transplant Association’s donor awareness initiatives returns to Saint John and Harbour Passage Saturday at 9:30 am.
Kristen Wheaton Clayton of Saint John serves as New Brunswick Provincial Director for the association and was busy handing out race kits to participants uptown Friday at The Running Room in Brunswick Square.
Wheaton Clayton said while this year’s forecast isn’t as cold as other years when the run was held, the chance for rain shouldn’t deter runners from lacing up.
“It’s actually going to be the warmest it’s ever been, normally when we’ve had the run it’s been below freezing, but this year, even with the rain, it’s still going to be plus 9,” said Wheaton Clayton.
Runners and walkers will start out along Harbour Passage in front of Market Square for the race-walk which continues adjacent to Chesley Drive before returning back the same route to finish again at Market Square.
Race events include 5 km and 10 km distances in addition to a 1 km kids fun run.
“We now have four trots that happen in New Brunswick,” mentioned Wheaton Clayton. “So we have a team lead in each city which is hosting one, and each takes care of organizing, promoting and running the events the day of.”
Moncton’s annual Transplant Trot also goes Saturday beginning at the Press Club at 9:30 am and moving along the Riverfront Park/Trail, while Fredericton’s trot is scheduled for Sunday morning. Another run is scheduled for April 20 in Grand Manan.
Each trot is one of many other independently run not-for-profit run-and-walk events held across Canada and is organized by a groups of local volunteers on behalf of the Canadian Transplant Association.
April 21-27 is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. A flag raising marking the awareness week will happen Monday at noon in front of Saint John City Hall.
Wheaton Clayton says the time is used to educate with a goal to increase organ and tissue donation awareness across Canada.
“There’s a lot in the news lately about organ donation and we want people to talk with members or their family about being an organ and tissue donor. Your family has the final decision in that situation and we want people to have a kitchen table talk about it.”
