The Friends of Doug and Diane Clement announced today the goal of reaching the $500,000 target for the Clement Scholarship Fund by the end of the year. This would allow the initiation of the scholarships in early 2023.

The Friends include former Olympic athletes coached by the Clement duo as well as members of the non profit, volunteer Achilles International Track and Field Society who have organized hundreds of competitions since 1964.

Doug Clement said "Diane and I were surprised on May 30 when we met our family for a 63^rd wedding anniversary dinner that was secretly organized by the Clement Scholarship Committee.

Yes, this was a complete shock as we were completely unaware that this group had raised over a quarter of a million dollars in three months to start off the creation of a scholarship fund created as a legacy to our family.

2022 is a significant year for Diane and myself. It marks our 86^th and 89^th birthdays on September 27^th and July 15^th, plus the “Big Surprise” wedding anniversary, and 58 years as founders of the Achilles International Track and Field Society.

Hundreds of outdoor and indoor track and field events as well road races have been organized by Achilles during that time as well as founding the Vancouver Sun Run, which has attracted over a million participants seeking an active and healthy lifestyle.

Clearly our family supports the efforts of the Clement Scholarship Committee to double the fund in the second phase of fund raising."

Marek Jedrzejek, Achilles Chair of the Board said, "Our committee will reach out to an extended number of track and field supporters and friends in the next month to achieve the goal. Financial support of Canadian youth has never been more important than in these turbulent times"

Achilles International Track and Field Society established in 1964 to support Canadian youth

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Doug and Diane Clement Scholarship Fund

Doug and Diane Clement, Olympic runners in the 1950's, founded the Achilles Track and Field Society (Achilles) in 1964 to offer BC and Canadian athletes the chance to improve their performance by competing against the best in the world at an international track meet each year. After 57 years, the Clements’ stepped down from their leadership roles at Achilles.

Achilles decided to honour them and create a lasting family legacy by launching The Doug and Diane Clement Scholarship Fund. Scholarships will be awarded to university and college students who demonstrate excellence in athletics coupled with a record of community service and/or study in a discipline that contributes to fitness and healthy living.

In the initial secret fundraising phase, more than 100 Achilles volunteers, athletes, colleagues and organizations donated and committed more than $250,000. The Fund has moved to a second public phase to build the amount of the scholarships available each year.

Doug and Diane founded the Vancouver Sun Run in 1984 and in 2019 the Rainforest Trail Run in Burnaby. They have been awarded the Order of Canada and are in multiple sport Halls of Fame. Doug was a doctor, UBC professor, coach and hugely influential in the development of the sports medicine practice in Canada. Diane was a coach, the first female president of Athletics Canada, a chef and has published eight best-selling cookbooks focused on healthy eating.