CR woman running to point out need for better child care
Harbour City Star
06 Oct 2007 

A Campbell River woman, hoping to raise awareness about the need for more public child-care funding, will run an eight-day marathon from her hometown to Victoria, kicking off on Tuesday.

Shelagh Germyn was touched by stories she heard about parents struggling to find childcare within their means at a town hall meeting earlier this year. Germyn, a married mother with two grown children, hopes her run will highlight the urgent need for a quality, affordable and accessible universal early learning and child-care system for children and families.

Communities along the 'A Million Steps for Child Care' route are organizing local events in support. Vancouver Islanders are invited to join Germyn by biking, running or walking with her along the way.

Local residents are also asked to create a banner decorated with the name of their community and colourful children's footprints.

The banners will be displayed at the Victoria Legislature post-run.

Germyn's schedule shows that she will be arriving in Qualicum Beach on Wednesday, running into Parksville the following day and arriving in Nanaimo by Friday before wrapping up in Victoria on Oct. 16.