WATCH: The impact the NightShift Street Ministry had on this woman

WATCH (above): Tina Shaw was formerly homeless and it was the NightShift ministry that helped her get her life on track. Julia Foy reports. 

Thousands of runners  took to the streets of Vancouver today as part of the Scotiabank half-marathon and five kilometre race.  One of the goals of the event is to help raise money for more than 30 charities, which includes the Surrey charity Nightshift Street Ministry. And it’s a charity that one runner says saved her life.

“Through NightShift I was loved I was valued I went from a homeless drug addict to a stable working woman who that’s off drugs,” Tina Shaw, who was formerly homeless, told Global News. “I was living in a tent and the one meal I got every day was from across the street at a shelter and that was NightShift Ministries.”

This is Shaw’s first charity walk but says it won’t be her last since she wants to do everything possible to give back to NightShift because she believes the charity gave her back her life.

WATCH (below): Reporter Julia Foy’s powerful interview with Tina Shaw. Find out why a woman believes NightShift Street Ministry is responsible for saving her life.

Founder Maryanne Connor started the charity 10 years ago and every night of the year the ministry offers a hot meal, hugs and support for the homeless. But as Connor says, the ministry’s needs keep growing.

“Our goal is to raise $10,000 today as of this morning,” Connor says.

“Of course we’d love to see that multiply because that money will help us get through the slow summer months where historically we know our donations are down.”

While today’s charity run and walk may be over, the race to help the homeless continues.

For  more information on how to donate click here.

~ with files from Julia Foy