Caped crusaders spring into action for children
In the words of the CEO, everyone was a superhero for the kids.
The Niagara Children’s Centre Superhero Run attracted record numbers this year, said Oksana Fisher, CEO of the organization.
“We have at least 500 participants and close to 300 volunteers. There is a lot of excitement, and everybody is coming together to help our kids.
“It’s a family-oriented event and a great cause. The superhero theme is so fitting. They are helping the kids be the best they can be.”
Held on the campus of Brock University, the event is in its fourth year and included a fivekilometre run for the athletically inclined. There is also a one-kilometre trek for the youngsters and their parents with 10 kid-friendly activity stations along the way for aspiring caped crusaders.
Shauna Morris, the children centre’s communications coordinator, said the run is one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers. The event raised $55,000 in 2018. The goal for this year was $60,000, and the centre was on track to exceed it.
“Everything here is accessible and family friendly,” Morris said. “It’s a fun day, and they know it is accessible.
“The best part is seeing all the kids having a great time interacting at the activity stations,”
she said. “We have passport books for the one-kilometre, so they can keep track of every station they visit. They are seeing their peers. The families interact and network with each other.”
The children’s rehabilitation centre, on Glenridge Avenue in St. Catharines, serves children and youths with physical, developmental and communicative disabilities and offers, among many services, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speechlanguage pathology and social work.