All ages and species joining 111km challenge in support of Northern Lights Movement For Kids (Submitted photo/NLMFK, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Northern Lights Movement For Kids

Many folks across the northeast participating in 111km challenge

Jun 28, 2022 | 3:24 PM

The Northern Lights Movement For Kids (NLMFK) has been holding its 111km challenge for the third June in a row.

The challenge, which runs all month long, aims to promote activity and raise awareness for the group, which was inspired by Jacob Leicht, a member of the Humboldt Broncos crash, as he wore the number 11.

His mother and Founder of NLMFK, Celeste Leray-Leicht said the purpose of the group is to promote relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.

“My bigger picture is that I would like to be able to create opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth from all over, to build relationships and make connections, while serving others through education, fitness and art.”

The initiative was started in 2018, as Leicht, the Vice-Principal at St. Dominic Elementary School in Humboldt, felt a call to action for Truth and Reconciliation, especially after the tragic school shootings in La Loche in 2016.

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“I just felt like as a provincial community we could do more and in my mind, what struck me was that what I could do was to create opportunities for students to build relationships and make connections with one another,” she said.

“I asked if they could connect us with a class to start writing pen pals and they were very positive and open to that at their end. So, my grade six class sent Valentines to students from their school and then our grade four class from our school started a pen pal relationship, as well.”

And while this year’s challenge isn’t a competitive one, she said it’s just all about the involvement.

“The onus is on people to sign up and move the distance of 111 kilometres, either on their own as individuals or in teams or with a partner. We continue to gain participants each year, so that’s really exciting. We do have an online community and there are people who have been sharing their success stories on there, so that’s wonderful.”

For some people, Leray-Leicht said they surpassed 111 kilometres a long time ago, however, there are some who are working to the bitter end to reach that plateau by the end of the month. Either way, she’s just happy that people are trying their best.

“We’ll just celebrate that the fact that people have gotten out and moved and have done something, to be physically active for their own health and wellness and to enjoy being outside as well. Anytime somebody participates or brings somebody else on board, that’s a success and it shows their interest in the initiative. So, as we continue to grow our initiative, our hope is that our participants will help promote it, each in their own way.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8