Eight-week Event Raised Money and Awareness for Youth Mental Health Through Running
At the start of 2021, 14-year-old Montrealer, Jesse Briscoe was frustrated by the cancellation of his sports clubs and was getting tired of sitting and playing video games.
Jesse was inspired by the incredible track performance of De Grasse and his mission to inspire young Canadians to get moving. Along with his father, the Briscoe family co-created the RACE WITH ME! Virtual Challenge and worked with Andre De Grasse and his foundation to get kids back on track.
The 8-week event in late Spring 2021 included thousands of young Canadians running track each week while generating awareness of the importance of physical activity and youth mental health for everyone in Canada to benefit Kids Help Phone.
On September 23rd, there will be a cheque handover to the Kids Help Phone with a donation of $25,000 that was realized from the RACE WITH ME! Virtual Challenge.
WHO: Speakers will include:
- Olympic 200m Champion Andre De Grasse
- Kids Help Phone President and CEO Katherine Hay
- RACE WITH ME Virtual Race Challenge co-creators Jesse and Rob Briscoe
- City of Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti
- Athletics Canada Chair Helen Manning
- York Catholic District School Board Chair of the Board Dominic Mazzotta
- YCDSB Director of Education Domenic Scuglia
WHAT: The students from the Father McGivney High School will be on hand to ‘welcome home’ Andre De Grasse in this event which will feature student participation, a number of speakers and the cheque presentation. There will be an opportunity for media to ask questions.
WHEN: Thursday, September 23rd, 2021, 10:00am – 11:00am ET
WHERE: Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy High School
5300 14th Ave Markham, ON L3S 3K8
This will be an outdoor event on the school campus with parking available in the parking lot at no charge. For inclement weather, the event will take place in the school’s Sports Dome.
WHY: Understanding the significant impact that the COVID-19 pandemic was having on youth in Canada and then creating an event to address that as well as support Kids Help Phone was the goal. Presenting the cheque to Kids Help Phone is the result.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS: For more information on the RACE WITH ME! Virtual challenge: https://raceroster.com/47354
For more information and to confirm your media attendance, please contact:
Steve Wallace – Executive Project Lead
(416) 885-9662
steve@envisionse.com
Omid Razavi – Director Strategic Communications, Kids Help Phone
(647) 617-9575
Omid.Razavi@kidshelpphone.ca