A BC man is on his way through the Okanagan as part of a fundraising ultra-marathon across the province. Lyle Povah is raising money for BC Children’s Hospital by running 1,500 kilometres around BC and organizing drum circles in 25 cities.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Drum Run Adventure Tour
November 06, 2023 - 2:32 PM
A BC man is on his way through the Okanagan as part of a fundraising ultra-marathon across the province.
Lyle Povah is raising money for BC Children’s Hospital by running 1,500 kilometres around BC and organizing drum circles in 25 cities.
Povah ran and drummed his way through Kelowna this past weekend, and spoke to iNFOnews.ca today, Nov. 6, while on route to Penticton.
“I’m at 11 kilometres right now, and I’m running a marathon today so I have to get to 42 km today,” he said.
Povah has been working with children's hospital for decades. He's a drummer and ultra-marathon runner who has led a music program at hospital for more than 30 years.
“If I can inspire kids to think about their health and raise funds for BC Children’s Hospital that boosts kids’ health and helps them while they’re in the hospital at a very difficult time then I’m going to do that,” Povah said. He's raised around $40,000 so far.
He started his journey in Victoria and then along Highway 16, also known as the Highway of Tears. He's currently making his way through the Okanagan on his way to the Lower Mainland.
Povah said the drum circles he organizes during the marathon have brought people together.
“People throw around words like happy, joyful, relaxing, energizing,” he said. “One guy said ‘I usually go out and get drunk on Saturday night and I miss my family and this gave me some comfort’ just some real authentic sharing.”
Povah leading a drum circle.
Image Credit: DrumRun.org
He said a woman told him she experienced relief from chronic pain during the drum circle.
“She was really emotional, as is understandable. I was really happy for her,” Povah said.
Drumming and running “make a great marriage,” Povah said, adding he hopes to run around the province again next year for a “Drum Run 2.0.”
Find a drum run circle near you and donate here.
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