Event is held each August in memory of Chris Owens, who would have turned 30 this year
NEWS RELEASE
ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
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About 400 A Run for Chris participants gathered today at Joe Sam’s Leisure Park in Waterdown to walk/run and raise funds in memory of 26-year-old Chris Owens, who lost his battle with mental health and addiction in 2021.
This year’s event raised $35,000 in support of mental health and substance use care at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Youth Wellness Centre (YWC), bringing the total tally donated to more than $120,000. Located in Hamilton’s downtown core, the YWC provides a safer space where youth can access culturally sensitive, gender-affirming care for their mental health or substance use concerns.
A Run for Chris has been largely organized by Chris’ parents, Sandy and Michael Owens; his sister, Michelle; and his best friend, Megan Roti, to honour his memory and raise funds to help others who may be living with mental health or substance use concerns.
“Not only has our event continued to keep Chris’ memory very much alive, but it also supports access to youth mental health resources in our own community,” said Megan. “Supporting the Youth Wellness Centre is near and dear to our hearts because when we toured the space, there’s a sense of community and belonging that Chris would’ve loved being a part of. It’s about treatment and about healing from the inside out.”
A team of clients and staff from the Youth Wellness Centre took part in A Run for Chris, too.
“Navigating mental wellness during a vulnerable time in a young person’s life can be tricky. There’s a fierce desire for privacy and independence, and yet also a need for connection and support. At the YWC, we try to bridge those gaps for youth by offering care and ways that youth can engage in activities like running, writing or painting to build friendships and understanding, too. Events like A Run for Chris are so critical to ensuring the Youth Wellness Centre has the resources it needs to continue offering programming that keeps youth engaged in their mental health journey,” said Taylor Hatchard, clinical and research lead at St. Joe’s Youth Wellness Centre.
St. Joe’s is the second-largest provider of mental health and addictions services in the province. Each year, the hospital will see more than 200,000 outpatient visits to its mental health and addictions clinics and care for more than 30,000 new patients. While government funding provides essential operational funding for services, the funds raised from this event help fill the gaps as the demand for mental health and addictions care continues to rise in the Hamilton region.
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