The community of Leader is rallying together in preparation for Saskatchewan’s first Terminator Run. 

The run, set to take place this Saturday at ten in the morning originates from the Terminator Foundation located in Calgary AB.  

“The Terminator Foundations vision is to reach all youth and young adults who are impacted by addiction and mental health and radically transform their lives through sports coaching, peer support, team training, endurance and triathlon participation while supporting efforts to terminate the shame and indignity of addiction with education, awareness and understanding,” as stated on their website.  

The purpose of the run is to create a safe place to come together, start tough conversations and stand up to the stigma that surrounds addiction. 

Participating in the 5km loop provides the chance to come together, followed by a pancake breakfast, swag bag and a Terminator T shirt.  

Laura Henderson, of Leader SK, has a personal connection to the run, having just celebrated eight years sober herself. 

“A huge integral part of my recovery, I think just having a safe place to say hey, you're not alone,” she said. “And everyone at some point has addiction affect their life, whether it's themselves or their family members or coworkers.”  

While participating in virtual runs during the pandemic, Henderson stumbled across the Terminator Run.   

She then reached out to the founder of the Foundation, Vanisha Breault. 

“I got in contact with her and said, hey like I would love to do this in Leader this year would be so fun,” Henderson stated. 

Henderson also took the time to elaborated on some of the work Breault focuses on. 

“She takes a huge sport approach to working with her athletes who could be a day clean or you know fresh in recovery or just trying to get out of active addiction and so she works right in the front lines with people where they're at,” she explained. 

“And then this is her annual run, in hopes to raise money and raise awareness and keep the foundation going and she's hoping to branch out more every year.” 

Registration for the Terminator Run can be found at www.terminatorfoundation.com  where anyone who wants to participate can sign up. 

The cost to register is $35, with funds going directly to the foundation.