On Friday, 160 runners and walkers set out from downtown Whitehorse along the Millenium Trail under a beautiful blue sky to celebrate Law Day.

The 20th Annual Law Day Fun Run/Walk saw more pre-registered participants than ever before, said Colleen Harrington, chair of the Law Day organizing committee.

"The weather was nicer this year,” Harrington said.

The original plan was to start the race from the front of the law building on Second Avenue, but the start was moved out of respect for those gathered for the Silverfox inquest.

"It didn't seem appropriate to have a fun run (starting there),” Harrington said.

The new start position on the banks of the Yukon River worked better, Harrington says, because they did not require bylaw to help them cross roads safely. The trail was 6.26-kilometres along the Millenium Trail.

Law Day is an annual celebration that began in 1983, the year after the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was signed.

This year the race's theme was equality, as evidenced by the t-shirts worn by each runner. Harrington said this was in recognition of the 25th anniversary of Section 15 of the Charter being signed into law, which guarantees equality rights.

Harrington said they had hoped to hold a public information session, but the volunteers weren't available.

The run was held as a fund-raiser for the Yukon Association for Community Living. Harrington says that final numbers aren't yet in, but she estimates at least $4,000 was raised.

"We considered it to be a success,” she said.

Each year the Law Day run chooses a different charity to support.

The association plans to use the funds to send staff to training sessions to further understand the federal government's new regulations for obtaining a Registered Disability Savings Plan.

Vicki Wilson from the Yukon Association for Community Living said the money will go towards addressing the gaps in family and individual understanding on how to get a RDSP.

Wilson says the new federal regulations may change people's minds about applying for the savings plan.

"This plan was released by the federal government and enacted very quickly so that there is emerging confusion for parents, caregivers and those with intellectual disabilities about the legal requirements to hold an RDSP,” Wilson said. "Without a clear understanding, they might be discouraged from accessing this new opportunity for financial security for those with intellectual disabilities.”

The association plans to send their staff down to training sessions to fully understand the new application requirements, to ensure that eligible Yukoners can take advantage of the savings plan.

"Although the amount is still not finalized, we are extremely grateful for the proceeds because without it families and people with intellectual disabilities would not be as well-informed about the laws around the RDSP and will and estates,” Wilson said.

"We're really happy to support that for sure,” Harrington said.

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20th Annual Law Day Fun Run/Walk

Results

Runners (male)

1. Rodney Hulstein 21:40

2. Carl McKay 22:57

3. Ian Parker 23:18

4. Bill Parry 23:34

5. Zeb Brown 24:16

6.Dan Shier 24:50

1. Kieran Halliday (youth) 25:27

2. Caelan McLean (youth) 26:33

3. Aiden Bradley 27:44

4. Chriss Ross 28:34

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Runners (female)

1. Sue Bogle 26:41

2. Debra Leigh 28:09

3. Larra Daley 28:43

4. Nathalie Dugas 29:57

5. Helen Stappers 29:58

6. Ada Johnstone 31:21

7. Sheri Hogeboom 31:55

8. Debbi Kiemele 33:15

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Walkers (not timed) (male)

1. Philip Gibson

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Walkers (not timed) (female)

1. Bonnie Love

2. Becky Striegler

3. Catherine Simpson

4. Dianne Canning