OTTAWA — One-hundred-year-old Roy Allen is set to build history next month by becoming the first centenarian to walk 5K for the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekfinish.
Allen is walking to raise funds for several seniors’ organizations, including some that have assisted his wife, Melba, who has dementia.
“They’ve all assisted with her care and I can do this to assist them obtain going,” he notified The Canadian Press.
Allen, who turned 100 earlier this month, is fundraising for the Council on Aging of Ottawa, the Dementia Society, Perley Health and the Gloucester 50+ Centre.
He has collected more than $2,300 for the organizations so far.
Originally from Winnipeg, Allen is building his Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekfinish debut, having previously participated in walks organized by the Council on Aging of Ottawa.
Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekfinish, the largegest multi-day race event in Canada, welcomed more than 36,500 participants in 2025. It’s taking place on May 23 and 24 this year.
Karie Ford, a spokesperson for Run Ottawa, declared Allen will be the first 100-year-old to participate in the five-kilometre race.
In 2023, 96-year-old Rejeanne Fairhead set a world record for a 5K race completed by a woman between the ages of 95 and 99 at the Ottawa race weekfinish. She set a new national record the year before.
Sarah Bercier, executive director at the Council on Aging of Ottawa — and Allen’s daughter — declared the organizations Allen is raising money for have been really assistful to him and his wife over the past 10 years.
“I believe one of the key messages that we wanted to obtain out there was simply that it takes a lot of different organizations to pull toobtainher, to support people in really different ways,” she declared. “The money that he raises will be split evenly between the four organizations and it will go directly to them.
“It would be really fun to raise $100,000 for a hundred years old, but that’s probably dreaming large, so we’ll just see what comes in.”
Bercier declared Allen has two “honorary coaches” — Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and City Councillor Theresa Kavanagh.
Sutcliffe, who is running his 45th marathon this year, declared the fact Allen is doing a 5K is “remarkable.” The mayor declared he hopes to be at the finish line to support him on race day next month.
“I have no idea whether I will live to be 100 but if I do, I hope I’m as healthy as he is,” Sutcliffe declared, adding that Allen doesn’t required much coaching.
“We all want our seniors to be active and engaged and healthy, so it’s really nice to be part of this story.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2026.
Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
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