聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 For the past two years, four-year-old Raina Miers of Carlyle has inspired family members and friends to form 'Raina's Crew' - a team of runners, walkers and most importantly, fundraisers - who support the Saskatchewan Down Syndrome Society through their participation in the organization's annual Regina Fun Run.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year, 'Raina's Crew' raised nearly $3,000 for the SDSS at the 2017 Fun Run, held Sunday, June 3 at Regina's Rick Hansen Park and although final funds are not yet tallied, event organizers told the group that they may have topped the national total for funds raised in Canada for this year's Fun Runs.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he race officials called Raina a 'rock star,' says Raina's mother, Kellie Jones. 鈥淎nd although the final figures aren't in yet - because donations are still coming in - they also told us that our team raised the most money in Canada during the Down Syndrome Fun Runs.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淟ast year -which was our first year doing the run -we raised $700,鈥� adds Jones. 鈥淪o we're thrilled with the support we received this year. And it meant the world that my mom and our friends travelled to Regina to be a part of 'Raina's Crew.'鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Raina was joined on the run by her parents - mom Kellie Jones and dad, Roger Miers - her grandmother, Valerie Morrow (who travelled from Kamloops, B.C. to support the run), her sister, Sidney Jones, and friends, Gavin, Alicia and Abigail Thomas and Sandra Dyer.聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dyer, a family friend - whose family raised $600 for the SDSS at her son's wedding - says that her first-ever run was especially meaningful.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t brought tears to my eyes,鈥� she says. 鈥淪eeing all of these little ones having fun and knowing we were helping such a good cause. I plan to be back next year, too. It was a great day and a great cause.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was phenomenal,鈥� says Jones. 鈥淲e received so much community support, family support and support from our friends. I can't thank everyone enough. We're so grateful and people from this area are so generous.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淏efore the Fun Run, Kellie and I were talking,鈥� adds Dyer. 鈥淲e both had pledge sheets and when we were looking at them, she said that she聽 was surprised that so many people - some she didn't even know - made donations in honour of Raina.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淏ut Raina's pretty special and I think people know that.鈥�
