VANCOUVER -- Dozens of men and women bared all and braved all at Wreck Beach's 16th annual nude fundraising marathon despite Sunday morning's thunder and heavy drizzle.

And while some decided to remain on the sidelines because of poor weather, others simply laughed it off.

"If it's sunshine, the sunbeam is very strong here - a hazard - almost seven times as in Japan in the summertime," remarked University of B.C. Prof. Ken Matsuyama, who was participating in the run for the first time.

"In that sense, this weather is nice."

Disappointed spectators, such as new mom Irene Irons, who travelled with her family from the U.S. to join the run, had to sit this one out. She recalled similar weather two years ago while pregnant with her daughter, Jane.

"We came all the way from Hawaii for the run, (but) it's cold, maybe if you guys had sunshine," she said.

Nonetheless, booming thunder wasn't enough to stop 16-time Wreck Beach Bare Buns runner Kevin McGinnis.

"I injured myself one year so bad I had to literally drag my leg. My leg was bruised all the way (from my hip) to my calf but I wasn't going to miss it," McGinnis, 40, said.

"It's a challenging race because it's sand. The sand really slows you down quite a bit, your ankles twist and you've got water that you run through ... it's not your typical five-kilometre road race. Sure doesn't sound like it either with the lightning."

According to event spokeswoman Judy Williams, all money raised from registrants goes back to the Wreck Beach Preservation Society to maintain the beach and fund next year's run.

"We started it to let people know that nudity is a wholesome way of life," she said. "Everything we earn goes back into the run, back into the war chest, to try to keep the beach undeveloped."