Newmarket, Aurora and all of northern York Region are getting ready to once again support their local hospital through the Nature Emporium’s Run for Southlake on April 27.
Dignitaries gathered at Nature's Emporium in Newmarket Jan. 15 to mark the official kickoff of the run, the biggest annual fundraiser for Southlake Foundation to help purchase needed hospital equipment.
Southlake Foundation president and CEO Jennifer Ritter said the run remains an important event in the community.
“Everybody does it with such joy and such commitment and such celebration,” she said. “It’s going to be very exciting.”
The Run for Southlake takes place annually along Davis Drive in Newmarket, right by the hospital. Last year’s event raised its largest amount to date, $450,000. This year, the aim is to raise more than $500,000. The event has gone on for 13 years, raising millions for Southlake Health.
Southlake chief nursing executive Kerry Popovich said she is passionate about taking part in the run.
“Generous community support is part of the reason Southlake Health has built a century-long legacy of compassion, leading-edge care that transforms lives,” she said, adding that equipment upgrades are important “so that our teams can continue to provide leading-edge care close to home.”
She added that some of the equipment upgrades gained through community funding have included surgical scopes, neonatal care stations, advanced patient beds and IV pumps.
“These investments are possible because of the generous commitment of our sponsors and supporters here today and thousands of participants who fundraise,” Popovich said.
Nature’s Emporium CEO Joe D'Addario said the event holds a special place in the hearts of the company.
“This event has grown into more than just a run. It has become a celebration of community, health and hope,” he said. “It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we come together for a cause that matters for all of us.
“We’re here to make a difference,” he added. “We’re here to show our support for Southlake and the countless lives that it touches every single day. Together, we can achieve something truly extraordinary.”
Ritter said there is truly a fantastic community ready to fundraise at a time when it is not easy.
“This community consistently honours the partnership that is community. That’s the partnership of community, hospital and government,” she said. “Our catchment is growing exponentially and we’re also aging, and we need to take care of ourselves and health."
You can join and donate to the Run for Southlake on the event website.
