In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, cities throughout the world are hosting running tributes.
Saturday morning in Calgary, approximately 1,000 people braved the chilly weather to run in the ‘Run for Boston’ at Edworthy Park.
“It was a pretty tragic event and everybody felt it,” says run organizer Trevor Hafbauer. “This goes to show that a lot of positive can come out of a negative time.”
Participants say the purpose for the run is to show strength and courage during times of tragedy.
“It’s just to show solidarity and to show the people of Boston that we’re thinking about them and that we care,” says runner Jana Sinclair.
“Look at how many people came out today,” says Anna Maria Bliss. “It’s just amazing how many people showed up!”
Among the hundreds at Calgary’s tribute run were the Millers who were in Boston at the time of the explosions.
“It was just a roller coaster of emotions that we’ve experienced right up until even today being here,” say Janet Miller.
Paul Miller witnessed the second of the Boston explosions, an unsettling event that continues to upset him.
“There were kids there watching their dads come across the finish line,” says Paul. “What kind of a person blows them up?”
The hundreds of participants that ran along the Edworthy Park paths Saturday morning symbolize the strength of humanity in the face of terror, a sentiment shared to the crowd by Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
“The fact that all of this came together, and every single one of you is here today, speaks so much to what our community is about,” say Mayor Nenshi.
“Just tell people run for Boston, run for your heart, show the world that we to can show everyone what is the best of humanity.”
With files from Kathy Le
