Running to help support the victims of the Christchurch shooting

I am currently living in Christchurch, New Zealand while I attend Teachers’ College. Last Friday afternoon, our school went on lockdown for 3 and a half hours during which time 50 people were senselessly murdered and 34 seriously injured while they attended afternoon prayer, about 4.5km down the road.

Since arriving in New Zealand in January, I have witnessed just how beautiful this country is; the landscape, the culture and the people. I have also found that Canadians and Kiwis are incredibly similar despite being separated by over 10,000km of ocean! The people of New Zealand are warm and welcoming and just like us, pride themselves on being a vibrant cultural mosaic.

I am a guest here in Christchurch and in their time of mourning I have been struggling to think of how to help, in the wake of what has happened.

Although it would be only a small contribution, I am running in the Christchurch “City 2 Surf” 14km race this Sunday, March 24th and I would like to run to help support the victims of the March 15th shooting. If you would like an outlet for your support for that cause you can make a donation, completely at your discretion. The donations will be given to the official Victim Support Christchurch Shooting Victims Fund to help with financially supporting the victims of the shooting and their family members. This will include; funeral costs, medical costs, accommodation costs for family members of the victims, and other necessities.

My hope is that this simple show of support, combined with the support provided by others from all over the world, will help to remind us all that the abundance of good in the world can and does surpass the bad.

(Photo is my own, taken at the Christchurch Botanical Gardens)