27 March 2015
For the second time this month, the Chief Financial Officer of De Beers in Canada will run a 42 kilometre marathon on one of the company’s winter roads – this time to support school-based food programs in the Northwest Territories.
This Monday, March 30th Steve Thomas will be joined by De Beers Snap Lake colleagues Megan Rodel, Superintendent of Business Improvement, and Marc Lincoln, Sr. Project Manager. Each will cover a full marathon distance on the ice road to Gahcho Kué, about 280 km northeast of Yellowknife. Rodel will also run and Lincoln will ride a bike designed for winter conditions.
Accompanied by a safety support vehicle, the trio will complete the distance in stages, returning to the support vehicle if necessary for a break, should the extreme cold that can occur at this time of year be a factor. Thomas – an experienced marathon runner who has competed in several events, including Boston, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa – recently completed a similar marathon run on March 11th when he ran 42km on the winter road leading to the De Beers Victor Mine in northern Ontario.
In the NWT, funds raised will go support the Food First Foundation (FFF), which runs nutrition programs in communities close to De Beers’ NWT operations – Snap Lake Mine and the Gahcho Kué Project. Thomas said it was important to undertake the run in the NWT after his successful event at Victor Mine.
“The well-being of people living in all of our communities is important and this is one way that I can make a small difference,” said Thomas. “Availability of nutritious, affordable food is a challenge in isolated NWT communities and Food First helps feed hundreds of children in need every day.”
De Beers will provide a corporate donation to support the cause and has reached out to its business partners seeking support. Those wishing to make a donation in support of the run can do so through the Food First Foundation. Details can be found at www.foodfirst.ca.