About
It is hard to believe that this year marks the 11th Annual Giants Head Grind – Christopher Walker Memorial Race Event taking place in Summerland on Saturday, May 18th, 2024.
We are back with the entire race again this year and all associated activities. However, if you cannot participate in the day and would still like to join us in spirit, you can register as a supporter and will you will receive a race t-shirt.
The Giants Head Grind route starts at Peach Orchard Park on the shore of Okanagan Lake and race (walk, run or crawl) 6.6+ kilometres from ‘beach-to-peak’ with an elevation gain of 500 meters, finishing at the top of Giants Head Mountain.
With the assistance of Race Roster, you will be able to log your times, and our Awards ceremony will take place the afternoon of May 18th, 2024 during the BBQ.
Watch for more Registration Announcements coming soon! Follow us on Facebook for updates.
Race History
The race is spearheaded and managed by Ellen and Tom Matthews together with The Rotary Club of Summerland, and a very committed group of local Summerland residents and sponsors. The goal is to showcase the beautiful Giant’s Head Mountain and the community of Summerland, while raising funds for colon cancer detection, diagnostics and research. Proceeds of the race also provide funding for the upkeep and improvement of the trail system in Giant’s Head Park with the support of the City of Summerland.
In 2013, Rotarian Roch Fortin brought the idea of organizing a race up Summerland’s Giants Head Mountain to Ellen and Tom Matthews, who had lost their son Christopher Walker to colon cancer that same year. The couple jumped on the opportunity as a means of keeping their son’s memory alive. By encouraging physical outdoor activity and promoting health and wellness, Ellen and Tom knew they would be honoring the memory of Chris in a way that would have made him proud.
The Rotary Club of Summerland is always looking for new ways to support the community of Summerland in the South Okanagan. Part of Rotary’s long-term vision for Giant’s Head Park is to improve the quality and accessibility of the trails for everyone to enjoy, and to assist in ensuring the sustainability of those trails by upgrading signage and providing an educational component to the trail.
Putting a Face on Cancer
It is hard to believe that our desire to keep the memory of our son Christopher Walker alive, by bringing awareness to early detection and prevention of Colon Cancer and raising funds for the Giants Head Mountain Trails, has become so much more. Since 2014, we have brought together a growing community of participants, volunteers, and local residents for a weekend-long event full of amazing memories and a hope for a future that is colon cancer-free.