More than 200 community members came out to support Dorie's House this past weekend for their eighth annual Southwest Run for Shelter Colour Run. 

The run kicked off around 10:55 a.m. with a colour toss at the Kinetic Exhibition Park before participants headed down the Kiwanis Bike Path for the five-kilometre run.

Shaun Hanna, president of Southwest Youth Emergency Shelter, was ecstatic to see such an amazing turnout and the community coming together.

"This is really exciting, and we could not be happier, it's just been a really great day," he said. "We have all ages and all abilities coming to this, it's an untimed event so hopefully it's just there to get out and enjoy what's turned out to be a beautiful day."

Hanna noted that since the organization began putting on the Southwest Run for Shelter, they've raised over $30,000 and anticipated a significant addition to that total this year.

"It's really nice to see the support that we've got, particularly from our title sponsor, Anchor Dental Group and our prize sponsors," he added. "We were able to collect over $10,000 in prizes for the runners as they come through."

The run went from the Kinetic Exhibition Park to just after Elmwood Park and back, with colour stations and water available along the way.

Abby Houston, a board member with Dorie's House, noted that, "today the weather was perfect, and I think we had the most registrants ever." 

The proceeds from the event will support programs offered by Dorie's House such as outreach work, treatment programs, preventative education, and more.