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Esquimalt’s Pyjama Prance tours Township on a frosty morning

Third annual event sees largest turnout yet, raises $1,738 for Rainbow Kitchen
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New Esquimalt residents Shannon Pierangeli and her kids Aurelia (left) and Roman crossed the finish line for the first time at Sunday’s third annual Pyjama Prance. Shannon said Roman kept the trio motivated on the two-kilometre route, exclaiming “We did it!” upon their arrival. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS

Folks in Esquimalt weren’t in a rush to get out of their pyjamas Sunday morning – instead they stayed warm in their fuzzies and took to the frosty streets for the third annual Pyjama Prance.

A crowd gathered outside Esquimalt United Church stretching and gearing up for the two- and five-kilometre prance, organized by Colette Scrimgeour and benefiting the Rainbow Kitchen next door.

“We like to make this a family-friendly event,” Scrimgeour said from under the hood of her peacock onesie. Previous years have seen participants aged from two and-a-half months old all the way up to 87.

Esquimalt resident Andrew Gage and his daughter Rebecca Wolf Gage, dressed as Santa and a reindeer, warmed up 234 prancers with a rendition of holiday songs on their violins.

As they crossed the finish line, each prancer received a medal, homemade by Scrimgeour from local pine, spruce and fir. “Everyone who finishes gets a medal, because everyone’s a winner today,” she said.

And everyone warmed up after touring the Township with a pancake breakfast put on by the Esquimalt Lions Club.

Participants were asked to make a suggested donation of $10 or five items of food. “A lot of people end up bringing both,” Scrimgeour said. “The Rainbow Kitchen gives us a shopping list and then I send that out.”

At last tally, this year’s Pyjama Prance had raised $1,738 (up from last year) and donated food items – including a turkey – weighed in at 842 lbs.

“This year the amount of sponsorship from the community and from major businesses was amazing,” Scrimgeour said. “It’s just phenomenal.”

kristyn.anthony@vicnews.com

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Organizer Colette Scrimgeour says this year’s Pyjama Prance drew a record 234 participants and raised $1,738 for the Rainbow Kitchen in Esquimalt. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
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Organizer Colette Scrimgeour hand made medals out of local pine, fir and spruce, to send home with each participant of the third annual Pyjama Prance charity walk/run. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS
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Esquimalt residents Doug and Tammy Fraser lit up the frosty morning and joined in the fun at the third annual Pyjama Prance. Kristyn Anthony/VICTORIA NEWS