About Us

Organizers

Run For Water is an Abbotsford based nonprofit society dedicated to staging a high-calibre running event. The members of Run For Water Society share the goal of promoting healthy physical activity and community spirit as well as raising funds for clean water development in under-privileged communities.

Ken Baerg 

Ken has been honoured to call Abbotsford home for his entire life. Professionally, he has worked extensively in the field of labour relations, government relations and policy development.  He currently works as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Abbotsford. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business Administration. Ken's passions include running, cycling, reading and spending as much time as possible with his wife and two young daughters. Ken's engagement with the local community includes participating in a wide range of sports as both a participant and a coach and serves on a number of community boards.

David Letkemann

David is a partner with the law firm of Linley Welwood, a leading firm in the ares of business and real estate law. He practices in the field of civil litigation and has done so for 15 years. David is also a director of First West Credit Union, a 5 billion dollar organization.  David graduated from Law School at UBC and prior to that obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double concentration in marketing and finance from Simon Fraser University. He resides in Abbotsford and is happily married with three wonderful children.

Randall Peters

Randall Peters works at TELUS as a senior producer for video productions. Randall is a father of four daughters and has run two sub-four hour marathons.

Kelly Neumann

Kelly Neumann has been a resident of the Fraser Valley for the past 16 years.  Her background in education and subsequently the director of an English language program, helped develop her innate organization skills and fuel her excitement for connecting global and local thinking. Kelly lives with her husband and two daughters in Abbotsford.

Robert Schmidt

Abbotsford born and raised.  Prominent in local basketball scene as an all-star at the highschool and college levels.  Coached at CBC for 11 years until 2004.  Worked at CLAC since 2000 in a variety of positions including union representative, research and education specialist and director of training.

Michelle Watrin 

Local writer and teacher, Michelle Watrin enjoys working with the educational and public relations side of Run for Water.  She recently authored a children's book explaining the cause and origins of Run for Water, titled Hope for Tayo.  She is a member of the Indiana Track & Field Hall of Fame for middle distance running and a proud Lady Boilermaker, as a member of the Purdue University Track & Field team from 1988-93.  Michelle has coached track & field at MEI and Rick Hansen in the past.  She enjoys running 10ks, half marathons, and triathlons, but the most running she does these days is chasing her four young children!

Bruce Kehler

Bruce has been a resident of the Fraser Valley since his parents moved their family to BC from Manitoba in the early '70's. He is a Field Sales Manager for a building products manufacturer, is married and has two sons. He was involved in various sports throughout his youth, including running track in high school, but didn't develop a real passion for running until 2001. After running the inaugural Run for Water, Bruce was so impressed by the event as a whole that he wanted to be a part of the organization team. Bruce has run 4 marathons, several half-marathons, many 10Ks and a triathlon and is excited to see a high-caliber running event in the Fraser Valley. Not only is this event making a difference to people locally by encouraging fitness, it has a profound impact on the people in Ethiopia by providing clean drinking water; something that we take for granted every day.

Jana Ratzlaff

Jana has been a resident of Abbotsford for the past 16 years. She and her husband co-own a private, personal training facility, Proactive Transformations. Jana’s love of fitness and heart for others keeps her actively involved in the community. She has done volunteer work for the BC Summer Games, our local TeleCare Crisis Line and Elections BC. Jana has three boys and a daughter who keep her life full of adventure.

Jasbir Singh

Jasbir is a local teacher and coach. He is in his second year at Clayburn Middle School, and taught previously at Princess Margaret Secondary in Surrey. He has been actively involved in coaching soccer, volleyball, and basketball in Abbotsford for seven years. His business experience includes Managing Director of Gentec Technologies and Regional Manager for International Investments and Mortgages.

Rob Quiring

Rob is a Structural Engineer and owner of IQ Engineering, in Abbotsford, BC. He grew up in Abbotsford and graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Civil Engineering. When not at the office, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife Suzanne and 2 young daughters. He also started running 3 years ago and has run a few 10k events and 3 half marathons. His personal best time was at the 1st Annual Run for Water!

DeVonne Friesen

DeVonne Friesen leads the Marketing and Sales efforts for an Abbotsford based company, and holds degrees from Trinity Western University and Queen's University. He lives in Abbotsford with his wife and two children. DeVonne is passionate about the Run for Water cause, and enjoys the racing part too -- though he is still recovering from being beaten by his son the past two years in a row.

Phil Klaassen

Phil has lived in Abbotsford since he was a child and enjoys all this city has to offer.  He is a General Manager of a group of companies specializing in Veterinary and Pet Supply Distribution.  He is married to Audrey and they have 3 boys who are active in the community through sports and the arts.  He has a passion to bring clean water to areas of the world that have limited access to this most precious resource.  He has been involved with Run for Water since its inception as a participant and supporter and now is excited to be part of the Board of Directors.

Shiela Barkey

Shiela has lived in Abbotsford for 11 years.  She is glad to be a part of Run for Water because she's passionate about helping people.  If she's not spending time with her husband, her two daughters, or her friends, she can be found at the gym. 

Shiela has run two half marathons and many 10K and 5K runs.  She is enthusiastic about challenging her body, mind and spirit.

Jon Brandt

As a lifelong Abbotsford resident, Jon is very interested in giving back to his community.  He is committeed to the Run for Water board because it serves the local community as well as gives to a larger global cause.  Jon is an owner of a local general contracting firm, Summit Brooke Construction.  He is married to Karen and has four fantastic children: Marshall, Rebekah, Amy and Hannah.  In his spare time he enjoys golf, driving motorbikes, all types of sports, and good food with good friends.

Claire Apostolopoulos

Claire has been a Kindergarten and Grade One teacher in the Abbotsford School District for 12 years.  She is married and has two boys, and she and her husband are also adopting from Ethiopia.  Claire joined Run for Water in an effort to do something to make an impact in Ethiopia and to raise awareness about the issues facing the people who live there.  As a teacher, she was touched by the fact that so many young people cannot attend school because they must walk for water, which is dirty and full of diseases.  She enjoys working with the Run for Water team to educate students and community members about these issues and to give back to the birth country of their future family member(s).  The whole family looks forward to traveling to Ethiopia to see the projects that have been completed with funds raised in our community through Run for Water and to meet some of the people that have benefited from Run for Water.