Runners and walkers raised $642 Monday for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

The Run Wild Event hosted by staff of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve drew 36 participants of all ages for the five-kilometre, figure eight loop that visitors typically follow while touring the facility.

The rehabilitation centre cared for 68 animals and birds from the year beginning June 2014 and running through the end of June 2015.

Jordan Lindoff, running in the adult male category, recorded the fastest time overall, completing the five kilometres in 20 minutes and nine seconds, a full minute ahead of last year’s winning time.

Andrew Smyth of the youth male category posted the second fastest time of 26:29 followed by 10-year-old Lisa Freeman in 26:53.

Tara Grandy, running with a stroller and two kids, was the fastest adult female in a time of 27:02.

Lindsay Caskenette, manager of visitor services for the wildlife preserves, said Wednesday the money raised this year will go towards general expenses incurred by the rehabilitation centre.

Last year’s Run Wild Event drew a record 121 participants who raised $2,288, though last year was a bit out of the normal because of the fundraising effort aimed directly at building an enclosure for an orphaned red fox kit, Caskenette said.

The fox, she said, was something of a local celebrity that attracted a lot of local support for the $10,000 goal to build the enclosure. He’s at home there now, and has just been joined by a female fox that was causing a little havoc in Porter Creek.

“They are living in that habitat together and doing fairly well,” Caskenette said.

For the Run Wild Event, staff purposely scheduled the release of two red headed ducklings who arrived at the centre this past spring, just so that the runners and walkers could see first hand what they were raising the money for.

The ducks were released in the large marsh inside the moose enclosure and it’s hoped they’ll hook up with a flock a fellow ducks for the annual migration south this fall, she said.

Of the 68 cared for at the rehabilitation centre last year, 53 had feathers and 15 didn’t.

The list included three swans that were treated and released, 10 red squirrels and one flying squirrel, one osprey and two orphaned black bear cubs who were shipped to a new home at the Calgary Zoo.

Of the 68, 42 were released, three are still in care and 23 either died or were euthanized because of extensive injuries.

As of this morning, the centre is caring for a sharp shinned hawk, a raven, a short-tailed weasel, a gosling, a red fox, and three snowshoe hares.