Runners in Winnipeg laced up at Assiniboine Park on Sunday morning for the mini-marathon to increase money for the maternity department in a hospital in Gaza.
“Winnipeg is this type of city that is great and we’re always ready to help anybody that’s in need,” said Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, during a Saturday interview with guest host Keisha Paul on CBC Manitoba’s Weekend Morning Show.
The event — called Run for Palestine — initially began in London, Ont., said Zeid. The mini-marathon later branched out to Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and now Winnipeg.
Nearly a hundred people showed up for the Winnipeg run, which surprised Zeid, who said they were not expecting that many to come for the event that is first Winnipeg.
The cross-Canada event has raised $160,000 to date this season and half of a million dollars within the last few a decade, said Zeid.
“We’re people people that are helping” he said.
This year’s five kilometre run was in support of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which is the largest complex that is medical central hospital into the Gaza Strip. Arises from most of the events across Canada is certainly going toward a medical facility’s maternity department, Zeid said.
“They need equipment, they want furniture, to ensure that’s where we decided the funds will probably go this season,” said Zeid, adding that the run is really a event that is”humanitarian” rather than a political one.
“At some point, everyone needs a hospital, so why not raise money for a hospital?”
The Run for Palestine event is a chance for people to have fun outside and enjoy food that is palestinian the park, in accordance with Zeid.
Zahara Rizvi, president of Students for Justice in Palestine during the University of Manitoba, helped organize the function. She said it only takes motivation and effort to make change.
“We’re adding to that microcosm of events” that support rebuilding in Gaza, she said.
Mona Zangana, a assistant that is legal volunteer during the run, said it had been heartwarming to notice a diverse number of people get together when it comes to event.
“It means a great deal to me — not merely as being a Palestinian but as being a being that is human that people here are supporting this cause.”
While the turnout more than tripled organizers’ expectations, Zangana hopes there will be even more runners at next year’s event.
LISTEN | Runners across Canada are lacing up for an event called Run for Palestine:
The Weekend Morning Show (Manitoba)4:26Runners across Canada are lacing up for an event called Run for Palestine
Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, joined guest host Keisha Paul to tell us about a run money that is raising a hospital in Gaza on the weekend.
Source link
