The official tally of money raised at the 22nd annual Nature's Emporium Run for Southlake is $450,000 — a best-ever fundraising result for the event — kicking off Southlake Regional Health Centre's 100th anniversary celebration.
“For 100 years and counting, Southlake has built healthy communities through leading-edge care. While a lot has changed since then, the overwhelming support from the communities Southlake serves has stood the test of time,” Dr. Paul Woods, president and CEO of Southlake, said at the event to a crowd of more than 1,350 participants and their family and friends in Newmarket.
Runners and walkers gathered on Sunday, April 28 at the Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place for Southlake’s largest annual community fundraising event that takes participants down Davis Drive on a five-kilometre loop past the hospital.
The event that began as the Bob Hartwell Challenge rallies participants of all ages from across the community.
“We are so thrilled to see the incredible results from this year’s event,” said Joe D’Addario, CEO of Nature’s Emporium, which marked its 12th year as the event’s title sponsor. “Our more than decade-long partnership is a key way that Nature’s Emporium gives back to the communities that support us and every year our team is inspired by the positive impact we all make together.”
Ninety-six teams participated in the event and competed for fundraising awards in five different categories. Fundraising challenge winners are:
- Corporate and Business Team Challenge winner: Team Magna
- Community Friends and Family Challenge winner: Angel Mom Squad
- School Challenge winner: Aurora Montessori School Wolverunners
- Mayors Challenge winner: Team Aurora
- Hospital Family Challenge winner: Fun-Raisers
A sixth additional award was added in 2022 — the Community Spirit Award, which goes to the municipality that has the largest number of participants per capita. The winning municipality for this year’s event is Newmarket.
In addition to Nature’s Emporium, event sponsors that were integral to the success of the event included Magna International (community and volunteer sponsor and longtime corporate partner of Southlake), Upper Canada Mall, BUNN, Boland Romaine LLP, GEM Health Care Services, Highland GM, Sports Medicine Centre of Excellence, telMAX, The Bakerfield, Chartwell Retirement Residences, Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd., Print Graphics, and Upper Canada Signs.
“To say that I’m blown away by how our communities showed up for Southlake at this year’s Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake is an understatement. From our dedicated group of volunteers, to our participants who fundraised so passionately, to our community leaders that participated, and sponsors who supported the event to help deliver the best experience for our participants, we couldn’t be more grateful for this level of commitment for our hospital in this, our 100th year providing leading-edge care close to home for our communities,” Southlake Foundation president and CEO Jennifer Ritter said.
Funds raised from this year’s event will enable the purchase of things like day-to-day equipment essential for patient comfort and care and advanced technology for clinicians across the hospital as they provide leading-edge care to patients and families.
For more information about upcoming events supporting Southlake, visit www.southlakefoundation.ca.
