Run for Rocky ends on an emotional note
Parents say mission has been achieved with gay-straight alliances commonplace
Nearly 1,000 people turned out Sunday for one final riverfront party and five-kilometre fundraising run in support of the fifth annual — and last — Run for Rocky.
The run was created in support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community by parents Rob and Nancy Campana in memory of their son Rocky, a young man who was gay, struggled with depression and took his own life in 2012 at the age of 23.
Since it began, the annual run raised $273,000 — not including Sunday’s funds — which has been used to help Windsor Pride establish Gay Straight Alliances groups in nearly every high school across Windsor and Essex County. It was estimated at least another $75,000 was raised on Sunday.
Rocky’s mom, Nancy, said the family never meant for the run to be long-term and wanted to end on a positive note. They feel their mission has been accomplished by having every high school in the Windsor area now offering an alliance group, plus other support services for teachers, parents and students.
Fundraising under runforrocky. com will remain open despite the end of the annual run — to be used for support materials in school, teacher training, educational speakers and even scholarships for students within the LGBT community, she said.
Both parents took the stage Sunday beaming with pride and emotions how the local community has rallied in support over the years, not only of the event, but in a major change of attitude and acceptance for local LGBT people.
“Our community has really embraced the cause,” Nancy said. “It is much more accepting of diversity which has great spinoffs for our community. When people see that acceptance, it becomes a place they really want to live.”
The festivities included a surprise announcement on how the City of Windsor has approved a proclamation that April 9 will forever remain Run for Rocky Day.
“I was kind of shocked, but it’s beautiful,” Nancy said.
Such widespread support in Windsor is something their son Rocky did not have when attending high school and felt isolated because he was gay, his parents said.
While on stage, Rob Campana requested any student attending Sunday “to promise me if you are having any difficulties, you will turn to all these people and they will help you. Please search out their help.”
Windsor Pride executive director Bob Williams said over the event’s five years he has become appreciative of how “the conversation has taken place and changed the community.”
Seeing educators and parents in schools welcoming more information and launching gay-straight alliance groups shows how “Windsor is ahead of the game in wanting a healthy and safe community for everybody.”
Justin Bensette, one of the participants Sunday, said the Run for Rocky event has helped create new hope for LGBT youth in Windsor and being accepted by the community.
“When I went to high school (seven years ago) you didn’t find the community like this,” he said. “If you were gay, you went to Toronto, New York or San Francisco, but you didn’t stay in Windsor.
“You see so much positivity now that it give me hope that in Windsor we can have inclusivity for all people and be accepted.”