“Run for Chris” returned this year on August 18th to raise funds for individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges. The event, held every August in memory of Waterdown, Ontario resident Chris Owens, who passed away in 2021, took place this year at Joe Sams Leisure Park in Waterdown. Chris Owens died at the age of 26 after struggling with mental health and addiction issues.
An avid runner, Chris’s family was inspired to organize a memorial run on the anniversary of his death to honor his memory. He was a regular at the Burlington and Hamilton Track Clubs and had a passion for travel and music. Although he appeared fine to most people, Chris struggled with mental health issues and addiction for several years before his passing.
The 2023 Run for Chris raised more than $35,000 for The Hub Hamilton, a downtown drop-in program that provides meals to Hamilton’s unhoused residents. Since its inception, the run has raised more than $100,000, according to Chris’s sister Michelle Owens. In the first run held in August 2022, about 400 people participated, and the numbers have remained consistent so far.
This year’s proceeds will be donated to the Youth Wellness Centre at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, which was also a beneficiary during the event’s first year. St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation spokesperson Carrie Trembinski noted that funds raised through the run will support the work of the Youth Wellness Centre, which assists individuals aged 17 to 25. The centre offers early intervention for those with emerging mental health concerns, transition services for young adults moving from the pediatric mental health care system into the adult system, and a mobile team for those who may face barriers to accessing care.
Run For Chris has a proud history of both honoring the memory of Chris Owens and raising funds to support those in the community facing mental health or substance use challenges. Participants can choose to run or walk during the event and are encouraged to bring their strollers and dogs along. The event organizers have successfully created an annual day where people can come together, spend time with one another, and support important initiatives for a good cause.
Source: CBC
