Remembrance walk for Kirstin Rae Sutherland continues to give back
Kirstin’s Walk for Kids has been an annual event in our community for almost a decade. This walk fundraises for the KWK Endowment Fund at the Selkirk and District Community Foundation and supports Children’s programming for the kids in our region. This is a great family-friendly walk that gives back to our community in a big way and is once again returning to Selkirk on June 8.
“It’s an annual event. It’s been in its ninth year now. It’s a five-kilometer walk, and it includes a hot lunch from Danny’s Whole Hog and a silent auction and all the proceeds, of course, go to the Kristin’s Walk for Kids Endowment Fund, which is held by the Selkirk and District Community Foundation,” said Walk Coordinator and Kirstin’s mother Laurie Sutherland.
In 2014, Kirstin was killed by an impaired driver in a car accident. This was a tragedy for our community, and to remember her, this annual walk was started as Kirstin was an Early Childhood Educator and deeply cared about the importance of caring for the children in our region.
“Kirsten was very friendly. She was very beautiful, and she had a lot of friends. She had a very engaging style. She loved kids,” explained Laurie.
This fundraiser has made a difference in our community in the past, with grants helping area daycares fund structures and playground equipment, non-profits like Nova House who help family leave domestic violence situations, and last year the Selkirk Friendship Centre Daycare’s summer campground allowing the kids to connect to nature and their community.
Record File Photo by Katelyn Boulanger
Last year’s Kirstin’s Walk for Kids was a great success. Come out to this year’s event on June 8
This year’s walk will take place on Sunday, June 8, at Selkirk Park. Registration will start at 9:30 a.m., and the walk itself will start at 11 a.m. The cost of registration is $25 for adults, $10 for youths, and kids six and under walk for free.
Residents can also get a jump on registration in advance of the event by signing up online at raceroster.com/events/2025/105242/kirstins-walk-for-kids-2025. Prices online are a little higher to account for online administration fees so that the full donation is still made to the KWK Endowment Fund.
Laurie believes that Kirstin would be proud that this event is helping her community.
“She would be very thrilled. She would be taking part in it. She would be walking, and she would be having a good time. She would be happy,” said Sutherland.
She encourages residents to make their way out to the walk and support a great community cause.
“It’s a fun day. We have a lot of people who are repeats, who have been with us for nine years. We have a lot of close family and friends, and then we have a lot of new people, and we welcome anyone, kids, families, whoever wants to come out. With the registration, they receive a meal, and we’re very happy to host them and serve them and hope that they and they have a good time,” said Sutherland.
