The recent Vancouver Sun Run, on April 21, 2013, holds a special place for Ann Williams, a Lake Babine Nation (LBN) elder who completed the 10 km Sun Run in three hours and 12 seconds. She was joined by 20 LBN runners for the event in support of improving literacy.

鈥淚 liked it, but it was very tiring,鈥� said 77 year old Williams of her first Sun Run. She joked that she would do another run, as long as she鈥檚 still alive when the time comes.

Ann went to Vancouver with her grand-daughter Rena Thomas in mind. Thomas recently overcame a four year struggle with cancer, which is now in  remission.

Ann has lived in the 亚洲天堂 Lake area her entire life. Born in Old Fort, she moved to 亚洲天堂 Lake to attend school in 1941.  Not only where there no schools near Old Fort (there鈥檚 now a school located in Fort Babine), but when she moved to 亚洲天堂 Lake, she remembers a town with just three buildings: the Royal Bank, a post office, and a hotel.

Long walks come naturally to Ann. When she was 12 years old, she would regularly make a seven mile hike in the Pendleton Bay area for seasonal fishing and hunting activities. As a young girl, the hike would take her six hours. So sixty-five years later, she wasn鈥檛 too worried about whether she be up for a 10 km hike through Vancouver streets.

鈥淚鈥檇 go for a walk sometimes,鈥� Ann said of her training before the Sun Run. 鈥淏ut never for very long.鈥�

鈥淚 walked on a treadmill once,鈥� she recalled, poking fun at her own lack of training.

She was accompanied by three of her grandchildren - Annalyn, Donald and Navaeh. Her youngest granddaughter Nevaeh Williams (Alec) was by her side from start to finish. Five of her children also joined her on race day: Ray, Theodore, Ron, Jeanette, and Delores Prince, the team leader.

Not one to sit still, Ann makes the trip to Vancouver regularly to visit her granddaughter Navaeh.  She said that she likes the big city but is always glad to get back to 亚洲天堂 Lake.