Islanders are invited to join sailors from HMCS Charlottetown in their annual relay run across P.E.I. over the next week to raise funds for the Children's Wish Foundation — it's the navy's 14th annual Run for Wishes campaign.

The run began in 2003. Since then, sailors have raised more than $370,000 for Children's Wish, which grants wishes to children between the ages of three and 17 who have a life-threatening illness.

"As the parent of a wish child, I was able to witness first-hand exactly what kind of happiness the Children's Wish Foundation can bring, not only to a sick child, but to the entire family," Sub.-Lt. Adam Vaters, who volunteered to lead this year's team, said in a written release.

Vaters, from Lawrencetown, N.S., has a young son, Brayden, who was born with an immune deficiency which severely limits his contact with other people and public spaces. Two years ago, Brayden was granted the wish of a backyard playground.

The team's goal this year is to raise $40,000. Last year they aimed for $33,000 and ended up with $43,000.

While half the 10-member team gathers donations along the run route, the other half runs 50 kilometres a day combined until they reach their goal of 250 kilometres, or the length of the Island.

Sobeys locations along the route — in Montague, Summerside, West Royalty, Stratford and Charlottetown — will host a public barbecue at the end of the each day.

Vaters's wife and son will join the HMCS team for the final leg of the run on Saturday, June 11 at the cenotaph in Charlottetown.

HMCS Charlottetown is being deployed a week after the event is scheduled to conclude.