In their first year participating in BRIGHT Run, the Let’s BUST a Move! team had an incredible one! They raised $55,224 for local breast cancer research and had a blast running their own virtual event.
Co-founders Jerilee Nyman, and her mother-in-law, Gerri Nyman, are proud survivors. Both have had treatments at Juravinski and when they learned about BRIGHT Run they knew that they wanted to get involved!
After discovering that the 2020 event was going virtual, the two took every step to organize a safe and fun event in their own community.
Jerilee and Gerri started by writing and delivering letters to every home along their planned route to let them know how special September 12 would be.
They asked their neighbourhood to drive carefully and bi-fold signs were posted in the community to encourage safety and social distancing.
“It was a pink explosion!” Jerilee exclaimed. Seventy-five friends and family – 100 group limits were permitted then – came to do their local walk, and all were encouraged to wear masks and keep safely apart during their trek through their neighbourhood.
The event was uplifting as neighbours clapped and cheered Let’s BUST a Move! on. They had so much support in their first virtual BRIGHT Run. Jerilee’s neighbour tied helium balloons everywhere she could along the 5km walk route and that made it very special.
Loralee McGuirl and Shari Van de Pol are professional musicians who entertained the group with a stunning performance atop Jerilee’s husband Mark’s pick-up truck. “They are fabulous entertainers,” says Jerilee.
As a tribute to past BRIGHT Run events, Let’s BUST a Move! also had a ‘wall of hope.’ Attendees were encouraged to write messages and post them to the garage door. Jerilee and Gerri received many wonderful, encouraging and thoughtful messages from their best supporters.
When Jerilee was asked whether they would organize another BRIGHT Run in 2021, her answer was: “Oh, absolutely. It was unreal, incredible. I feel so blessed and at its end felt so loved and supported. I am thrilled to give back to Juravinski.”
Let’s BUST a Move! fundraised creatively. They held an online auction through Facebook, and Jerilee’s daughter Averie raised $4,626 by making and selling BRIGHT Run bracelets.
A highlight for their group was a live video broadcast of the results using a flat panel television on the front step. They were so proud to see BRIGHT Run surpass its $300,000 goal – an amazing accomplishment during a virtual year!
Jerilee and Gerri look forward to this year’s event. Jerilee said, “I love BRIGHT Run. The BRIGHT Run family has become part of my family now.”
Their group is keen to host another virtual event, but they also look forward to the day when they can gather with their entire BRIGHT Run family at the Dundas Conservation Area.
