Organizers of this year's Run for Water in Abbotsford are hailing the event as a success for a variety of reasons.

More than 3,500 participants took part in the run at Mill Lake Park on Sunday and $203,000 was raised, with all proceeds going towards providing clean drinking water in Ethiopia.

"We're just thrilled with the numbers, the turnout and the community support," said Run for Water spokesperson Michelle Watrin.

However, the success of the event was quickly overshadowed when a volunteer collapsed and needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before paramedics rushed him to a nearby hospital.

An update of the man's condition was not available on Monday, said Watrin.

She added the man is a manager at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Abbotsford.

Organizers are thanking the quick actions of local schoolteacher and Run for Water board member Claire Apostolopolous for saving the man's life.

"The girl . . . had just taken his photograph minutes before he collapsed," said Watrin.

"He didn't have a pulse and wasn't breathing, so she and another person . . . performed CPR. Our medical doctor for the runners came over and helped stabilize him before he went to hospital.

"It was a terrible thing to happen but we hope the best for him."

Despite what could have been a major tragedy, the run continued as planned, with 180 runners competing in the 42.2 kilometre marathon.

This year, organizers added the marathon, which acted as a qualifying event for the famed Boston Marathon.

The new addition resulted in athletes from as far as Quebec coming to Abbotsford, said Watrin.

"People were raving about the course," she said, adding the number of Boston Marathon qualifiers is still unknown.

Watrin also passed along congratulations to all the schools that raised money this year.

As many as 3,700 students participated in mini runs on their respective school grounds, and $38,000 - enough to provide more than an entire village with clean drinking water - was raised.

"Last year it was $20,000 and we were thrilled with that," said Watrin.

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