Marystown native ready to Run the Rock

Dale King has driven across the province on several occasions, but this week he'll experience the island from a whole other perspective.
The 28-year-old native of Marystown, and 13 fellow crewmembers from the Halifax-based 'HMCS St. John's', will set out from Port aux Basques on foot Thursday for the 'Run the Rock' charity run. The group is due to arrive in St. John's June 7 - a week and a half later.
For the past 13 years, members of the Canadian Navy ship have run from one end of the island portion of the province to the other raising funds for the Children's Wish Foundation. All told, some $216,000 has been raised to help grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses in the province.
Mr. King, who is the son of Larry and Bernadette King, has been in the navy for six years and was posted in Halifax in 2004.
An electronics technician, he specializes in both internal and external communications aboard 'HMCS St. John's', where he has been stationed for the last 18 months. He has also had stints on 'HMCS Toronto', 'HMCS Athabasca' and 'HMCS Charlottetown'.
For residents of the Burin Peninsula, the group is scheduled pass through Goobies Thursday, June 5, around 11:30 a.m.
"I was on board the ship last year when it took place and - not knowing much about it - I didn't put my name in to be a participant. This year, I knew a little more.
"What you do is you submit a request form saying you want to participate and represent the ship in such a good event … and I got picked for it!"
GREAT EVENT
Derek deLouche, director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter of the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, acknowledged 'Run the Rock' has been a great event for the organization, noting the crewmembers handle most of the organization and fundraising.
"During the (ship's) commissioning year, they decided that they wanted to do something for a community charity. They had heard about the Children's Wish Foundation and they actually decided to make us the charity of choice that first year."
The run has taken place every year since - with the exception of 2002 when the ship was stationed in the Middle East. Instead, crewmembers set up treadmills aboard the vessel and ran the equivalent distance.
"It's become an event where the runners compete to actually run.
"We have people from right across Canada that are on the ship and they want to come and do this event so badly, because they've heard of the wonderful hospitality, they've heard of the great meetings that happen across the province and - for the guys and girls who participate - it's a great team building exercise."
The Children's Wish Foundation was first established in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1986.
Since then, the organization has granted more than 360 wishes across the province and now includes 20 subchapters, including one on the Burin Peninsula, which was among the first to form. Barb Cribb, who oversees the local chapter, is one of the organization's longest serving volunteers in the province.
Mr. deLouche explained the run generates a lot of interest, and all along the route families who've had a wish fulfilled come out to support the runners, the organization's volunteers greet them and the public stop to make donations.
He explained since so few runners are chosen, the selection is often viewed as a source of pride for many of the participants' hometowns.
"This year there are 14, but usually there are only 12 runners. They're picked from the entire ship's complement; they've generated a certain amount of funds to be able to do that, and so it's kind of cool when one of your hometown sons or daughters gets to go."
LOOKING FORWARD
Mr. King acknowledged he's looking forward to the event, particularly the chance to greet people along the way.
"That's when you actually drive home what you're doing and how significant it is."
However, it won't be all fun and games - the participants will have their work cut out. Each day, the runners will log roughly 100 kilometers between them.
Mr. King indicated he has stepped up his exercise routine of late.
"For the past couple of weeks now, I've really been trying to fine tune, get ready. All those hills on the west coast, it's not going to be easy."
Mr. deLouche, who has biked the length of the province before, noted the trek is an arduous task.
"It's definitely a test of stamina, a test of strength. They have no choice. Once they've started the run they don't give up. They have to meet their kilometers each day, and they've done it through injuries over the years - runners have had to take over when another hasn't been able to do their part of the run, and they do it!
"And they're in a good mood when they arrive in St. John's. It's amazing. They're still in a good mood.