Hundreds of runners in Chatham-Kent are gearing up to hit the road on Sunday, June 11.
That's for the annual Trot to the Beach 5K and half-marathon.
Around 250 people are expected to participate, with the regular half-marathon route back this year.
"Last year because of some construction issues on Erie Shore Drive, we couldn't do the half-marathon, so we just did a 10K and 5K," said organizer J.P. Huggins. "But this year back to that half-marathon run and walk and the 5K that has made Trot to the Beach so famous over the years."
Huggins said the half-marathon starts at the Blenheim Arena and the runners get to run right along Lake Erie.
"Through Erie Beach, all along, right along the lake all the way into Erieau, and finish right on the beach there. It's such a beautiful run. You have about 15 km of shoreline that you just run along. People just love it," Huggins said.
Online registration wraps up on June 4, but you can register the day of the event at the arena in Blenheim.
Huggins added that all of the money raised is going to the Word of Life Soup Kitchen in Blenheim and some other local groups
"We'll give some money to the Chatham-Kent Paramedics. We have some awesome paramedics that volunteer for Trot to the Beach every year. And as well as the Fire Department. Then we hold a little bit money back and we give out gas cards to some local families that are going through some medical needs and they have to travel to London, or Toronto, or Windsor," Huggins said.
Huggins said his goal for 2023 is to raise around $15,000.
