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As part of a commitment to help improve the lives of children, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre partnered with RBC for a new fundraising event. Over $1 million was raised during the first annual RBC Run for the Kids as runners took laced up their shoes for a 5 km and 25 km run over the weekend.
Sunnybrook intends to use the donations to establish the Family Navigation Project, a program to help counsel youth with mental health disorders or addictions. The project is being spearheaded by Dr. Anthony Levitt, who is one of Sunnybrook’s successful psychiatrists and identifies over 2 million young Canadians who are unable to receive specialized treatment to cope with their needs.
“This is, in large part, because families don’t know where to go or how to find the services their children need. The Family Navigation Project will give youth with mental health issues and their families a place to start and a path to follow.”
Sunnybrook’s partnership with RBC helped make the event a success and also ensured special guests were onsite to support the cause. Many Nickelodeon characters including SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer were in attendance, and RBC also recruited Canadian Olympic athletes who were once sponsored by the bank.
Sunnybrook also made recent headlines this month by announcing a partnership with the Insception Lifebank cord blood banking program. The hospital is committed to improving the quality of life for children who cope with both physical and mental illnesses.