Photo credit: Stephen MacGillivray Photography

At the Fredericton International Airport (YFC), we know physical and mental health are crucial for a vibrant community. That’s why YFC continues to be a proud sponsor of one of the most anticipated New Brunswick races, the Stewart McKelvey Fredericton Marathon.

“There’s something for everyone at the Fredericton Marathon,” says Co-Race Director Christine Little. “Whether you’re one of our amazing volunteers, corporate partners, or you run one of the six races: the youth fun run, 3k, 5k, 10k, the half marathon or the full marathon. It’s a fantastic community event.”

Currently in its 46 year, the 2024 event saw over 2800 people registered, a 25 per cent increase from last year. The full marathon, which is sponsored by YFC, has seen an increase of 70 per cent since last year!

Photo credit: Stephen MacGillivray Photography

The marathon has an organization committee of 12 volunteers, a fantastic group that was recognized for its efforts by winning the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce’s Community Impact Award in 2022. In addition to the organization committee, there are over 100 volunteers during the race weekend; that includes individual volunteers and local community groups such as York Sunbury Search and Rescue.

“This event attracts locals race enthusiasts from all over Canada and even the U.S., with those participants flying through the Fredericton airport,” says Co-Race Director Bruce Macfarlane. “Over 200 rooms were occupied at Delta Fredericton for the race. It’s a great economic driver for our community, trickling down from the city to the airport, hotels, restaurants, and local shops.”

According to Bruce, over 75 per cent of participants come from outside the Greater Fredericton area. Christine and Bruce credit the success of this event to its strong partnerships, especially the support from the City of Fredericton and Downtown Fredericton.

This year, YFC held a contest to give away free race entries to the event of the winners’ choice. Aimee Gauvin was one of YFC’s 2024 giveaway winners; she participated in the 10k run with a fantastic time of 53 minutes, placing her in the top 15 percentile.

“I had a wonderful time running the race!” says Aimee. “It was a wonderful way to experience the feeling of community and spend time enjoying our gorgeous trail system.”

With sunny skies and a great temperature, the 2024 race weekend had near-perfect conditions. An avid runner, Aimee took advantage of the weather and enjoyed her race along with her fellow athletes.

“I wouldn’t have done it without your [Fredericton Airport’s] support, and it was a very special experience for me,” says Aimee.

Photo credit: Stephen MacGillivray Photography

Community is a key pillar for the Fredericton Marathon. In total, the marathon has granted over $135,000 throughout 12 years to various local community organizations. They also host programs such as the Shoe and boot mountain, which is a program to give lightly used shoes to the Fredericton Homeless Shelter, and Run for the Shelters, which gives 100 per cent of proceeds to the shelter.

“It’s vital for us to give back to our community, as our community does so much for us,” says Christine. “We keep expanding and growing—we’re so excited to see what next year will bring!”

For more information on the Fredericton Marathon head over to their website at: https://frederictonmarathon.com/