First annual Positivity Run on Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island University campus created to celebrate all bodies–no matter the color, size, shape, or ability–as beautiful
Students at Vancouver Island University were invited to join in and “have fun and promote positivity for all” at the first-ever annual Positivity Run on the VIU Nanaimo campus. “We have created this event in order to celebrate ALL bodies, no matter the color, size, shape, or ability as beautiful,” organizers with the campus Psychology Club said. The Positivity Run was held on Friday September 30, 2016.
In today’s society there is too much focus on the imperfections and flaws that we all have, and to that I say “Screw what society says!” We are all awesome in our own way and it is our differences that make us the most beautiful. — VIU Psychology Club
The event was a costume run “in which you should wear whatever you feel the most beautiful and most awesome in.” Costumes could be “anything ranging from your high school prom dress to your onesie to your craziest club wear.” The challenge: “Wear whatever as long as you feel freakin’ awesome!”
“Screw what society says! We are all awesome in our own way
and it is our differences that make us the most beautiful.”
The run began at the bottom of the storm stairs, with staggered starts every minute or two. As runners began their journey up the stairs there were people cheering them on, with exclamations of “awesomeness, gorgeousness, and beauty.” The event organizers hoped that runners, by the time they arrived at the top, would “feel as amazing as you truly are and ready to burst with positivity.”
A celebration of positivity was set up in the middle of the campus, just in front of the Library building. Many of the clubs on campus and from the community (including CHLY radio) had activities, booths, and swag for runners and other participants to enjoy. There was music and dancing as well.
The VIU Digital Media Club ran a pop-up photo studio to record images of the runners and organizers.
VIU Psychology Club members underlined their event plans with the hope that participants were excited to “celebrate all of our beauty and spread some much needed positivity around the community.”
People First Radio: We speak with Charlotte Stark and Bronwyn Wydeman.
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audio | @viunews VIU #Nanaimo #psychology #positivity #mentalhealth @VIMentalHealth @CHLYRadio #awareness | listen: https://t.co/aH17MAh3xQ pic.twitter.com/XsduCNkLa6
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) October 4, 2016
