Chris Kurz’s most recent “ultra marathon” has raised close to $15,000 for two charities.
The Listowel resident said he was “ecstatic” to successfully complete his June 9 run from Listowel to Drayton and back – a total distance of about 64km – in bunker gear traditionally reserved for firefighters.
On Tuesday, with his muscles still aching from the trek, Kurz said his third ultra marathon in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada is his last.
“Oh ya,” he confirmed with a laugh. He added he was elated with the support he received before, during and after his run. Combined with a dance on June 9, as well as a beard fundraiser, he estimates he raised $10,000 to $12,000 for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
“At times it was very touching,” he said, noting he appreciated the signs of support, verbal encouragement and also the company provided by several individuals throughout his run.
“It was nice to see interest from such a broad age range.”
Kurz, 31, departed Listowel at around 3:15am. The heavy rain kept the temperature low but also weighed down the bunker gear with each stride.
But despite the extra weight, Kurz arrived at the Drayton fire hall at about 6:40am, well ahead of schedule and in advance of a pancake breakfast scheduled that day by the Mapleton Fire Department.
Fire Chief Rick Richardson said he was shocked to see Kurz running by as he prepared to leave home that morning.
“Everybody was impressed,” Richardson said of Kurz’s quick time for the first half of his run.
Richardson noted Kurz received a great reception at the breakfast, which raised about $1,270 for a memorial to North Perth firefighters Ray Walter, and Ken Rea, who died fighting a Listowel fire last year.
Kurz dedicated his run to the memory of the fallen firefighters, and also to Lisa Mitton, who battled cystic fibrosis all her life before passing away last summer at age 34.
The second half of Kurz’s run was far more difficult, he said, due to the increased humidity, but he still finished it in under seven hours.
It was all worth it, given the beneficiary of the fundraiser, Kurz said.
For him, an added bonus was losing the “pretty intense” beard he has grown since last year (fundraising pledges to shave the beard outpaced those to keep it by about $2,000).
“People say I look like a 15-year-old kid now,” Kurz said with a laugh.
