A virtual running event is scheduled for tonight in support of a family from Steinbach.

Two years ago, Ashleigh Dueck of Steinbach was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. Together with her husband Jordan and their children, the Duecks have spent two exhausting years navigating a journey of treatments.

Brent Manke is a friend of the Duecks. He says when a person is going through dark trials of pain or loneliness, it can be difficult to just keep moving forward. This is what prompted Manke to organize an event that allows family, friends and complete strangers to walk in solidarity with the Duecks.

It is called The Longest Night Run. 2020 will mark the third time for this annual event. Manke explains that with winter arriving on Monday, that means the night of December 21st will be the longest and darkest night of the year. Manke was intentional in choosing this date to run his event.

The way it works is you can sign up for a slot between sunset tonight and sunrise tomorrow, to run on your own. This is a virtual running event, which means someone can be running down the sidewalks of Steinbach, while another person is running on their treadmill in Winnipeg, while still someone else can be skipping down the beaches of Mexico. If all goes according to plan, every 30 minute slot from sunset to sunrise will be filled, with many slots having multiple runners.

In addition to the support of having people walking with you, Manke says this is also a fundraiser. He notes the Duecks are currently out of province seeking treatments. And, because neither of them is working right now but rather focusing their attention on getting help for Ashleigh, the couple and their four children could use some financial assistance to pay for bills.

Meanwhile, Manke says their 2019 run drew about 100 participants from across North America. Manke set a goal of running all 16 hours of the event. When the sun rose the next morning, he had run 97 kilometres.

"It was an incredible experience," he says. "Just to be on your feet and moving forward for sixteen hours through the night is amazing."

Manke says his goal for this year is also to run through the night.

"There always comes many points where you want to stop, where you don't feel like going any further, you just want to sit down and you just want to go to sleep but you decide to keep moving forward," he explains.

Manke says he thinks the Duecks have been overwhelmed by the support over the years. Last year, when the Duecks were still in Steinbach, participants would run past their house during The Longest Night Run and light candles or say hello. Though not in Steinbach this year, Manke says they still feel the support from afar.