A participant of the Great Prairie Race poses with his Northern Lights Movement for Kids shirt. (Facebook/Northern Lights Movement for Kids)
Challenge Accepted

Northern Lights Movement for Kids continues 111 km challenge

May 28, 2021 | 4:43 PM

Celeste Leray-Leicht is continuing to honour her son, Jacob, connect Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, and get people to be more active with the Northern Lights Movement for Kids.

Leray-Leicht started the movement with her family, and she is currently encouraging people to register for their 111 km challenge, which was inspired by the No. 11 jersey Jacob wore while playing with the Humboldt Broncos. Jacob lost his life in the tragic bus crash on April 6, 2018.

Anyone can participate in the challenge by moving 111 km on land or water during the month of June.

“You can walk, bike, run, kayak or canoe,” Leray-Leicht said. “This challenges people to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. There is no sophisticated way of keeping track with us. We’re inviting people to just keep track themselves.”

The Northern Lights Movement for Kids started the challenge in June 2020 and Leray-Leicht said approximately 150 people participated last year.

“We built our own little community,” Leray-Leicht added. “It was a great way to be active. Last year we had a lot of fun.”

Over 250 people have registered for the 111 km challenge starting next month.

“Some people are doing it as a family,” Leray-Leicht said. “Some people are doing it alone. We’re planning on making it an annual event.”

One of the other initiatives that is part of the movement is called The Great Prairie Race. The race invites Indigenous and primarily non-Indigenous schools on the prairies to move the distance between their communities and meet virtually.

“Its purpose is to create opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous kids to come together in a fun way and build relationships and make connections,” Leray-Leicht said. “I want our kids to become the best versions of themselves and I think this is an awesome way to do it. This is just the very beginning of it.”

Brendan.Mayer@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @BrendanMayer

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