It’s fast. It’s flat. It’s scenic. It’s for charity. This Sunday, May 27, up to 4,500 marathon runners will take to the roads of the Fraser Valley for the Abbotsford Run for Water marathon.

The Boston qualifying marathon event starts off at 7am in at Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford. The 42.2km (26.6mi) course winds through Abbotsford’s agricultural lands and Sumas Prairie.

Last minute race entries will be accepted at the Abbotsford Running Room until May 25 and the Race Expo, held at the Bakerview Eco Dairy (1356 Sumas Way) on Saturday, May 26 (9am – 4pm). Late registration fees are $100 for the full marathon, and $80 for the half marathon. Race fee includes a technical shirt (long sleeve for marathon / short sleeve for half marathon), finisher medal and post-race snacks and beverages.

On course hydration and nutrition will be provided by PowerBar. Aid stations are located approximately every 3km. There will be marathon pace bunnies for 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, and 5:00 hours.

In addition to the Sunday marathon events, there will be an ultra-marathon held on Saturday, May 26. There are 20 registered participants for the 63.3km event, including Canadian adventurer and ultra runner, Ray Zahab. Ray has ran 1,200km across the Atacama Desert, the Death Valley off-road, and across the entire Sahara Desert!

Proceeds from the weekends events and donations collected will go to HOPE International Development Agency, a Canadian not-for-profit organization. The funds will be used to deliver clean drinking water to the world’s poorest in southern Ethiopia.