Champions for Kids Foundation 3rd Annual Fun Run/Walk Raises Over $3,500 to Help Children in the Community
(Pictured above: A centipede team from Kemptville Public School wait at the starting line of the Champions for Kids Foundation Fun Run/Walk. The team, sponsored by Walmart, represented the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) by dressing like young children and wearing CHEO T-shirts.)
(Kemptville) – Close to 200 Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) students, staff, parents, friends and community members showed their support for children in need across Eastern Ontario by participating in the 3rd Annual Champions for Kids Fun Run/Walk on June 19 at the Ferguson Forest Centre in Kemptville.
Participants ran one or five-kilometers as an individual, family or “centipede team” – a group of four to eight people who ran tied together – and raised more than $3,500 for the charity.
Chairperson Sarah Crawford said this year’s event – held on Father’s Day – attracted more participants than previous years, and as a result, raised the most money of all past Fun Runs.
“We couldn’t be more excited about this year’s turnout,” she said. “Much of the increase in participation was due to some incredible teachers who introduced their students to running and encouraged them to participate. In addition, we had some local businesses sponsor school teams.”
Sponsors included Home Hardware, Walmart and TD Canada Trust. Plus, local photography company CT Photo, which took action shots throughout the day, agreed to donate 100 per cent of the proceeds they received from photo orders to Champions.
Crawford said running and sports groups including the Brockville Road Runners, Athens Street Gang, Prescott Pacers, St. Lawrence Rapids Speed Skating Club and St. Lawrence College cross-country team were represented either as a team or as individual participants.
“This year the event took place in conjunction with Ribfest, an event organized by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Leeds and Grenville,” Crawford said. “This event offered a weekend full of food, fun and activities for people of all ages. Both events had one common goal in mind – to support children in our communities.”
Prizes of UCDSB merchandise, as well as gift certificates from area businesses including Brewed Awakenings, B&H Grocers and Dairy Queen were awarded to the Most Experienced and Youngest Participant, as well as the participants with the Best Spirit, Most Funds Raised, and Best Costume.
Crawford’s children Maggie and Ethan won first prize for the Most Funds Raised after collecting a total of $171. Meadowview Public School Principal Jane Holski placed second for raising $120, and Rideau District High School teacher Stacey Armstrong placed third for raising $115.
Merv Hodgson was recognized as the Most Experienced Runner, while a number of children aged two to nine were recognized for being the Youngest Participants.
The Best Costume Award went to two centipede teams – a one-kilometer team from South Branch Elementary School (sponsored by Home Hardware) and a five-kilometer team of students from various schools called “#1 Dads.”
The Spirit Award went to a student centipede team from Kemptville Public School. Although the team was sponsored by Walmart, the team members also represented the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) by dressing like young children and wearing CHEO T-shirts.
In addition, Westminster Public School student Danica Cole raised more than $80 through selling her handmade friendship bracelets at the event.
Since the event was held on Father’s Day, a number of dads and their kids participated together.
Tom Wormald, a teacher at Oxford-on-Rideau Public School ran with his twin daughters Jada and Emma.
“It was just perfect,” he said. “It was the best present I could imagine. I love running and I want to instill the excitement of running in my girls.”
“This is what he wanted,” Jada said about her dad. “I also liked running with my friends and I don’t always get to do that.”
Steve Plotz, and his wife Natalie, ran with their two girls Petra and Hannah. Steve said he learned of the event through a flyer his daughters brought home from Toniata Public School.
“It’s a good way to get us out as a family,” he said. “It’s a way for us to get out in the community and run together.”
Steve’s parents, Gord and Jane Powell, drove down from Denbigh to watch the Plotz family run. The whole family enjoyed Ribfest afterward.
The UCDSB Champions for Kids Foundation is a non-profit charity that helps level the playing field for children across Eastern Ontario. It gives families a helping hand to meet their children’s medical needs, and allows their kids to participate in sporting events, the arts and other fun activities outside of school hours.
(Pictured above: The North Grenville District High School staff centipede team.)
Posted: June 24, 2011