- Hurdal Summer Shuffle and Slide: A five-kilometre walk/run for adults and 2.5-km fun run for kids, with an optional slip and slide finish for both courses, along the West Vancouver Seawalk, Saturday, Aug. 11, starting at Dundarave Park at 8: 30 a.m. Info: www.runningposter.com. Registration: www.runningroom. com. Entry fee: $30.
THIS year's edition of the Hurdal Summer Shuffle and Slide will be a special one for co-organizer Jordan Hurdal.
North Vancouver residents Jordan, 35, and his sister Jessa, 32, founded the intergenerational event nine years ago in honour of their grandfather Thor who's battling prostate cancer. This year, Jordan's new daughter, Layla, born in November 2011, will also be on hand. A five-km fundraising run/walk set for Saturday, Aug. 11 at West Vancouver's Dundarave Park in support of prostate cancer research and support initiatives through the Canadian Cancer Society, the event is incredibly meaningful to the Hurdal family. It offers a means of paying tribute to Thor's continued cancer battle - 11 years and counting - and is now a way to pass on the importance of healthy living to future generations of the Hurdal family.
"We started the event just for prevention and early detection," says Jordan. "My grandfather, if they would have caught (his cancer) early, they would have been able to probably prevent it, but they didn't. It's spread everywhere."
West Vancouver resident Thor, 82, is continuing to undergo various types of treatment, including chemotherapy, and experiences pain on some days, though manages to keep his spirits up. "When we first started organizing the event, they told us he wouldn't make it a year," says Jordan. "He's still going along. He's a pretty tough old guy."
On average, the Hurdal Summer Shuffle raises a few thousand dollars every year. "I believe it's a good cause and it's a fun event and it also encourages people to be active as well," says Jordan. He enjoys sharing Thor's story with members of the general public and is always pleased to see participants likewise there in honour of someone close to them: either those who are similarly battling cancer; or who've succumbed to the disease. "I just want to keep doing it every year," he says.
New for 2012 is the addition of a 2.5-km kids race as well as an optional slip and slide finish for both the adult and children's courses, which is proving incredibly popular, says Jordan. "It seems more adults are excited about the optional slip and slide finish than the kids," he laughs.
HEALTH NOTES
Zumba Fitness Classes Summer Special: Different dance styles are incorporated into a one-hour class for a fun way to get a cardio, core and full-body workout Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. and Tuesdays, 5: 30 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1110 Gladwin Dr., North Vancouver. Fee: Unlimited classes for the month of August, $20. Register by Aug. 3 at 6049713578.
Yoga by the Beach: Mixed levels of hatha yoga instruction will take place Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10: 30-11: 30 a.m. until Aug. 30 at John Lawson Park, West Vancouver. Classes are weather permitting. Bring a yoga mat or beach towel. Fee: $10. Info: www.bodyharmony.ca or 604-929-9642.
Foundations of Hatha Yoga for Adults: Free, outdoor yoga classes at Norgate elementary school through July and August. Tuesday evenings, 5: 306: 45 p.m., Thursday mornings 6: 30-7: 30 a.m. Info: contact Rochelle at [email protected].
Zumbon: A high-energy, diverse music and dance workout to the rhythms of Latin America Saturdays, 9: 15-10: 30 a.m. until Aug. 26 at the Ferry Building Gallery, 1414 Argyle Ave., West Vancouver. Bring a yoga mat. Drop-in fee: $10. Info: 604-925-7290.
Ambleside Par 3 Junior Open: An 18-hole tournament for boys and girls aged eight to 12, Thursday, Aug. 9 at Gleneagles Golf Course, 6190 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. Entry fee: $15. Info: 604-921-7793.
Brandon Daoust Memorial Golf Tournament: A charity golf tournament to raise money for Covenant House (shotgun start at noon), followed by a silent auction and dinner at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11 at Northlands Golf Course, 3400 Anne Macdonald Way, North Vancouver. Info: 604-340-8517.
Email information to listings@ nsnews.com.
