CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - A couple of Island youngsters have given the free kids event at the P.E.I. Marathon a new name and logo.
The marathon teamed up with The Guardian and Sobeys Extra this summer to give an old event a new identity.
Formerly known as the Kids Spud Run, the 2018 event will now be known as the Kids Fox Trot, complete with a splashy new logo.
The new name of the event came from Eva Lyn Connor, 6, while the fox logo is the brainchild of 10-year-old Ella Hanus, both from Charlottetown.
This all comes from a contest run by The Guardian. People interested in designing a new logo were asked — as individuals or as a family — to put their creativity to the test and submit artwork to the paper for consideration.
Likewise, anyone who wanted to suggest a name for the new event could send it along to the P.E.I. Marathon.
Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, race director with the P.E.I. Marathon, said they got entries from across the province and even a few off-Island.
“We had lots of people apply and send us in all kinds of wonderful pictures and wonderful little taglines,’’ Jenkins-Smith said.
And, for the first time since the marathon launched 15 years ago, there will be medals for the kids this year. Last year’s event drew 525 kids, and the number is expected to be even higher this year.
Kirk MacDonald, who handles marketing and sponsorship for the marathon, said rebranding the kids event has been a great process.
“(These two) girls made this all possible with a fantastic logo and an amazing name for it as well,’’ MacDonald said. “This is going to be on all our shirts and medals.’’
Eva and Ella both got a rather large gift bag full of all kinds of gift cards and other fun stuff for their efforts.
Ella was rather humble on the big contest win.
“Yes,’’ she said when asked if she was excited. “It wasn’t very hard.
The big marathon weekend takes place Oct. 12-14. Click here for more info.
