Winter officially arrives this afternoon. That means tonight is the longest night of the year with the most hours of darkness.

The sun will set today at 4:29 pm and only rise tomorrow at 8:24 am. As a result, we will have almost 16 hours of darkness tonight. 

For five years now, Brent Manke has been helping organize The Longest Night Run in Steinbach, held annually on the longest night of the year. He notes it originally started as a way to support a friend who was battling cancer. The last couple of years, the focus has shifted and is now based on the needs in the community. The 2021 run supported Eden Health Care Services, while this year runners will raise funds for The Steinbach Area Ukrainian Settlement Task Force. The money will be used to support local refugees as well as humanitarian efforts.

According to Manke, The Longest Night Run is a community vigil where participants come together to remember those lost and to honour those struggling through difficult seasons in life. Manke says though runners experience darkness tonight, they will come together to remember they are a light for each other.

The way it works is that interested participants sign up for a one-hour slot during the night hours. They then commit to running or walking for that time. Collectively, this then becomes a virtual relay. Though The Public in Steinbach is sort of home base for those picking up their run package or wanting snacks throughout the night, Manke stresses that runners can take part from anywhere around the globe. 

The cost to participate this year is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. 

Manke says typically about 100 people take part in this event. Last year more than $3,000 was raised for Eden Health to support mental health in our community.

Manke says The Longest Night Run is a special experience for those who take part. He notes under normal circumstances, people avoid running or walking at night and there is good reason for that. But he recalls the first year of this event when his wife and a friend ran outdoors at 2:30 am. And, while out there they were surprised at how bright it was and how nice an experience they had together.

"There is a special feel to the winter outside in our community," notes Manke. "It's really encouraging for people who are encountering a difficult time and also just for people running and participating in the event, just to see people out, our spirits are lifted just by seeing that there are other people encountering the night and encountering the dark together, that has a really positive impact."

Visit The Longest Night Run for more information on this year's event.