A Richmond-based running group, which has been keeping the community clean while on their runs, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Metro Vancouver.
Lapower Running Club was established in 2014 to promote a healthy lifestyle through running while connecting people new to Canada from China.
The club meets weekly for social runs, distance runs and monthly "plogging" runs — a term to describe "picking up litter while jogging."
Lapower has since grown to 3,500 members in nine different areas of Metro Vancouver with groups meeting in Richmond, Vancouver, White Rock, Coquitlam, North Surrey and Langley.
Recently, Lapower has expanded to Calgary, which they are celebrating along with their 10-year milestone.
In the Richmond chapter, there are about 460 members.
The Richmond chapter of Lapower organizes plogging runs around Terra Nova Nature Park and Garry Point Park, according to Donna An, co-founder of Lapower.
"Every time we can pick up to 20 large bags of garbage from parks," said An.
Some members of the Vancouver's chapter of the club recently moved to Calgary and brought along their running spirit to Alberta, explained An.
"They kind of established some running activities over there, hence, this is how we expanded one province over," she said.
An, who previously studied in Calgary, said running can be a challenge due to the cold weather, but their members "somehow made it happen."
"It's very interesting when you see the photos they send of people in Calgary running in snow gear versus here where we're wearing a rain or wind shell jacket."
She added runners from Calgary travel to B.C. to participate in competitions and marathons as well.
"I'm very happy to see more people getting into running," said An, highlighting the benefit of including running in one's daily routine.
"There's lots of partnership, friendship established through running activities."
An told the Richmond News several club members have become healthier through running. Benefits include better management of diabest, high blood pressure and depression through running.
"There's been a lot of great stories shared among running members and it's great to see how it started so small to now have grown into such a large running club in West Canada."
She highlights the club's success is due to the club's volunteers and their work in planning events to keep people connected.
"I would say we have 30 core team leads who are really active and devote themselves to the daily operation of the club.
"We hope to continue to see the sport grow not, only for the health of the community but to give people new to Canada a way to connect with others."
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