OTTAWA — One-hundred-year-old Roy Allen is about to make historical past subsequent month by turning into the primary centenarian to stroll 5K for the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.
Allen is strolling to boost funds for a number of seniors’ organizations, together with some which have helped his spouse, Melba, who has dementia.
“They’ve all helped together with her care and I can do that to assist them get going,” he informed The Canadian Press.
Allen, who turned 100 earlier this month, is fundraising for the Council on Growing old of Ottawa, the Dementia Society, Perley Well being and the Gloucester 50+ Centre.
He has collected greater than $2,300 for the organizations to date.
Initially from Winnipeg, Allen is making his Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend debut, having beforehand participated in walks organized by the Council on Growing old of Ottawa.
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, the most important multi-day race occasion in Canada, welcomed greater than 36,500 contributors in 2025. It’s happening on Could 23 and 24 this yr.
Karie Ford, a spokesperson for Run Ottawa, mentioned Allen would be the first 100-year-old to take part within the five-kilometre race.
In 2023, 96-year-old Rejeanne Fairhead set a world file for a 5K race accomplished by a girl between the ages of 95 and 99 on the Ottawa race weekend. She set a brand new nationwide file the yr earlier than.
Sarah Bercier, government director on the Council on Growing old of Ottawa — and Allen’s daughter — mentioned the organizations Allen is elevating cash for have been actually useful to him and his spouse over the previous 10 years.
“I feel one of many key messages that we wished to get on the market was merely that it takes lots of totally different organizations to drag collectively, to assist individuals in actually alternative ways,” she mentioned. “The cash that he raises will likely be cut up evenly between the 4 organizations and it’ll go on to them.
“It could be actually enjoyable to boost $100,000 for 100 years outdated, however that’s most likely dreaming large, so we’ll simply see what is available in.”
Bercier mentioned Allen has two “honorary coaches” — Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and Metropolis Councillor Theresa Kavanagh.
Sutcliffe, who’s working his forty fifth marathon this yr, mentioned the actual fact Allen is doing a 5K is “exceptional.” The mayor mentioned he hopes to be on the end line to assist him on race day subsequent month.
“I don’t know whether or not I’ll reside to be 100 but when I do, I hope I’m as wholesome as he’s,” Sutcliffe mentioned, including that Allen doesn’t want a lot teaching.
“All of us need our seniors to be energetic and engaged and wholesome, so it’s very nice to be a part of this story.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 25, 2026.
Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press