by Sabrina Young (Staff Writer)
Toronto, Ont – Since 2005, Torontonians and tourist alike have been treated to a holiday spectacle in Toronto’s fashionable Yorkville district and this year was no different. On Saturday, in the midst of the shopping season, Yorkville was ablaze with red Speedos as 100 runners dressed in Speedo bathing suits stopped traffic as they took part in the 9th annual Toronto Santa Speedo Run to raise funds for Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Kids.
The event was conceived during a hot summer run in July 2005 by Matt Freeman as a fun way for the ‘brave and adventurous’ to don their red Speedos and ‘run’ through’ the streets in December regardless of the weather to raise funds for the toys and games program at the Sick Kids Hospital. To date, the event has raised over $240,000 and this year the amount is a remarkable $41,000 and counting.
The runners crisscrossed the Yorkville shopping area as amused and supportive shoppers hooted, hollered and honked their car horns to show their support for the short 3km event with a relaxed pace, a few jumping jacks and push-ups are thrown in to keep the body warm. There have been years when the weather was been 5C and it has been -15C with snow flurries. Inclement weather has never stopped participants.
The event is generously supported by sponsors such as Speedo, Running Free, Fox River Socks, La Bicicletta, Hemingway’s and Lululemon.
For more information about the event, please visit the website www.torontosantaspeedorun.com
Twitter: @Santa_SpeedoRun or #TSSR14
