The campaign is coordinated each year by Bernadette Martin, Teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, whose leadership and enthusiasm have helped build this initiative into a meaningful community tradition.
Bernadette explains what keeps her motivated to return each year:
“What keeps me motivated to organize this massive community effort every season is a combination of tradition, compassion, and faith. At TA, participating in the Miracle Marathon is a long-standing tradition we feel strongly about continuing. It’s a beautiful way to bring all the Kenora schools together, and it inspires us to help make the Christmas season the best it can be for families in our community. This commitment aligns perfectly with our Catholic faith, as we always seek opportunities to connect with and assist others whenever we can.”
For her, the most rewarding moment comes when everything comes together on delivery day.
“It’s incredibly rewarding during the loading and unloading of the bus. It reminds us that the hard work of all our schools is directly supporting our community. I also love hearing the students go on air to share their stories and celebrate how we successfully filled the bus again.”