One of the most interesting and challenging adventure races in Canada is the Banff-Jasper Relay (www.bjr.ca) that occurs in the first week of June (as soon as it is warm enough). The relay has become one of Canada’s most acclaimed events, but over the last few years, it has become important for another reason. The Banff-Jasper Relay has become a prominent donor to Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada.

Unlike most races, the Banff-Jasper Relay event is designed as a team event ran over an exciting 258-kilometer course. The relay is broken up into 15 stages through the incredibly scenic route along the Bow Valley Parkway and Icefields Parkway. It is one of the few opportunities for athletes to receive access into this area of the Canadian Rockies. Like the course itself, the people involved with the race are courageous and seek the trill of adventure.

Once such person was Garth Huck who passed away in May of 2004 due to a brain tumour. An athlete with an easy-going and good-natured personality who loved exploring new trails, Garth had an insatiable curiosity of what lay ahead over the next hill. His friends and loved ones have continued to hold the race in his honour and use it to raise money in support of others who have been affected by this awful disease.

In June of 2008, due to a revised race website and new online initiative, the event helped to raise an incredible donation of $55,790.70. A huge portion of this amount was due to the enthusiastic promotional efforts of Team Mimi.

Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada thanks the organizing committee of the Banff-Jasper Relay – Race Director Blair Shunk, Reanne Booker, Alan Lam, Lisa Cameron, Ron Legere, Jim Clampett, Andrew MacInnis, Barrie Cameron, Shaheen Bhimani, James Romain, Rob Stichbury, Jasper Mayor Dick Ireland and Parks Canada – for their ongoing support and for helping to Imagine a Cure.

For more information about the relay and how you can get involved in running your own fundraising event, please contact Eileen Quigg at equigg@braintumour.ca or by telephone at 1-800-265-5106, ext. 224.