Nationalism, sports and caring

This Canada Day, there will be no rest for the athletic and the charitable. Who needs BBQ and fireworks when you can run to raise funds...then run some more!

At 8am, we will take part in the HBC Run For Canada. It is a fundraiser for Canadian athletes as well as publicity for HBC's line of official Beijing 2008 merchandise. I must admit that I was going to skip the run until I saw the shirt and finisher's medal - both Beijing inspired.

Flocons and I have discussed reenacting an encounter between a Beijing supporter and a Tibetan activist on the 10K course, but we fear that event organizers will crush us both in the process. Instead, we will have to stick to something that will give HBC pause, like 'Free Stephen Harper'.

Later in the day, after lining our stomachs with food and maybe napping under a maple tree, we will continue the theme of running and caring. With the goal of raising money for the Canadian Liver Foundation, we will hold a beer mile. Competitors will run a mile and drink four beers in the process. To open up the competition to pregnant women and pansies, chocolate milk has been offered as an alternate choice.

Participants and spectators will be asked to donate $5 and, in return, they'll get a nice drinking glass - schwag just like a real charity event. We even have a name for the run, which I hesitate to give for fear of incurring the wrath of the pink brigade. Let's just say that it is like a popular pink brigade fundraising event but with 'Liqueur' in place of 'the Cure'. Think about it.

I have high hopes for our beer mile because it has already provoked strong feelings of either support or revulsion. One non-attendee has pointed out that drinking in public is illegal where we live. I scoff since we will probably be arrested for trespassing on school property before the cops smell the alcohol on our breath.

Results of our beer mile to come! Happy Canada Day!