With $80,000 in the books and a full race roster, organizers of the Run for the Kids event couldn’t be happier.
The run, a fundraiser for the Children’s Treatment Centre (CTC) of Chatham-Kent’s Foundation, took place June 25 in Rondeau Provincial Park. It brought competitive and casual runners, as well as CTC families, out for a day in the park.
The runners and walkers took part in a 5K, while kids under 12 ran a 200m fun run.
A total of 250 people took part in the event.
Mike Genge, president of the CTC Foundation, was overjoyed with the results.
“Raising $80,000 today…this is absolutely incredible,” he told The Voice at the run. “This is really, really good. Putting it out as a bit of a carnival as well as having the run – and having lots for the kids to do – helped.”
Along with the run, the organizers had face painters on hand, as well as The Co. doing crafts. CK Rec’s Play Rangers set up outdoor fun and games for kids as well.
Genge said the fact 40 CTC kids and their families signed up for the event was “fantastic.
He also said hosting the run at Rondeau Provincial Park was a plus.
“Having it set up in Rondeau Park, where there’s lots of shade and it’s on a flat surfaces, it’s a pretty easy place to hold a 5K,” he said.
In 2023, all CTC Foundation events are being redesigned to ensure that the focus is on raising community awareness and funds to support special programs for CTC children and their families.
Not all services at the Children’s Treatment Centre are covered by government funding.
The funds raised by the run will go towards recreational therapy programs run by the CTC, including a Rondeau Park sailing program, Challenger Baseball, sledge, dance, music, and a new social skills program.
“We have a program that we’ve been doing now for youth on the social work side. It teaches them how to do life skills. That program is doing really, really well,” Genge said.
