Hog Jog teaming up with Stratford House of Blessing

The 19th annual Ontario Pork Industry Council Hog Jog is set to take place on June 18, starting at the Stratford Rotary Complex. (Submitted photo)

The Hog Jog has become an annual tradition for runners and walkers across Southwestern Ontario to raise money for local charities and organizations for over 20 years.

Author of the article: Cory Smith

The Hog Jog has taken on a life of its own.

What started as a little run during the Ontario Pork Congress conference in Stratford – a way for the industry to give back – has become an annual tradition for runners and walkers across Southwestern Ontario that has also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities and organizations over almost 20 years.

This year’s event is scheduled for June 18.

“It’s pretty special,” race co-chair Quincy Buis said. “To see it keep growing year after year is a lot of fun.

“We hope for the best every year.”

More than 500 participants signed up in 2024, which set a record, but the race was cancelled for the first time when a thunderstorm hit just seconds before runners and walkers were set to take off through the streets of Stratford.

There’s a 10-kilometre course for runners that starts on the road and makes its way into the old grove, plus a 3.5km walk and a 100m weaner run where small kids chase someone dressed in an inflatable costume and then get a freezie afterwards.

It’s become a popular event for those who might be too busy on weekends and can go after work.

“It gets a lot of walkers and more and more runners who like the midweek run, and it has a reputation as a challenging course,” Buis said. “It’s less competitive than some (long-distance runs). It’s a friendly first-time event for a lot of people . . . but those hills are killers.”

The event teams up with a charity or organization each year and typically raises between $40,000 and $50,000. Around $60,000 was raised last year to help Rotary Stratford Hospice Perth build a new sitting garden. The previous year, money raised allowed St. John’s Ambulance to purchase a new vehicle.

This year’s funds will help the Stratford House of Blessing either retrofit one of its vehicles with a refrigeration unit or purchase a refrigerated vehicle. It will add an element of safety to the food bank, which transports perishable food in coolers.

“With the current times, we thought that’s a wonderful project we would like to support,” Buis said.

The race also taps into the network of the charity or organization it’s supporting, which boosts participation numbers both in that year and moving forward.

“People do it once and come back year after year,” Buis said. “It grows the recognition of the event. They know our cause from last year and they think our following causes are great, and it’s a fun event.”

There are 340 participants signed up for the 19th Hog Jog, which starts at the Rotary Complex parking lot with the weaner run at 6:15 p.m. The 10km crew hits the road at 6:30 p.m., and walkers start five minutes later.

The cost is $40 per runner per walker, though it’s $25 for youth 15 and younger doing the 10km run and includes a pork dinner afterwards. The price increases $10 for June 18 signups.

For more information or to sign up/get a pledge form, visit hogjog.ca.

cosmith@postmedia.com