The 2nd Annual Run for Bradford (BWG) took place on June 10. The heat and humidity may have slowed the pace, but there was still a good turnout for the event, a fundraiser for the Town's new Library and Leisure Centre.

The Start/Finish line for the 5K Run and 3K Run/Walk was the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at property on 10 Sideroad. The AMJ Community founded the event ast year, as a "sister" run to its Run for Vaughan, an event now in its 8th year, that has raised almost $400,000 for a new hospital in Vaughan.

Bradford West Gwillimbury Mayor Doug White participated in the event, telling AMJ members, "You are wonderful for our community, and wonderful for our country, and wonderful for what you do around the world. You raise funds and you pour them back into the community."

"I wish you would have this on a monthly basis - I could lose some weight," joked Councillor Raj Sandhu, who also walked the 3K route. "What you are doing for the community is very great."

Last year's Run presented $7,500 to the Library, and $25,000 to the Vitality Campaign, for the Leisure Centre.

Lal Khan Malik, President of the AMJ Community in Canada, welcomed runners and walkers, noting that the Koran advises people to "participate in all matters of goodness and piety... This is a good cause. I look forward to this event growing every year."

There were bouncy castles for the kids, breakfast and a BBQ lunch for a nominal cost, and awards for the first to cross the finish line, in several age categories.

The overall winners were:

5K Men - 1st - Ammeer Malik, 2nd - Harris, 3rd - Wahleed Irfan.

5K Women - 1st - Kate Stewart (who finished 3rd overall), 2nd - Amy Lynn, 3rd - Nicole Bain.

3K Men - 1st - Ali Irfan, 2nd - Sharukh Rauf, 3rd - Usama Shakeel

3K Women - 1st - Jamie White, 2nd - Menahel Butt, 3rd - Michelle Rich.

Other dignitaries included Councillor Ron Simpson, honorary chair of the Run, and Councillor Carl Hordyk, who ran the 3K route, finishing 3rd in his age category.