Heater’s Heroes returning to Oakes Park
Mike Strange hopes the day will come that there will no longer be a need for events like Heater’s Heroes Run for Children.
But, he knows that’s wishful thinking.
The annual event at Oakes Park raises funds to support children and families affected by terminal illness, life-altering illness or injury.
“What some of these kids and their families have to go through is just awful, it’s heartbreaking,” he said.
Each year, the charity names a group of “heroes” to be saluted by having people walk a lap of the track at the Morrison Street park in their honour.
Sometimes, however, it’s a lap in their memory.
One of this year’s heroes is Melia Payne. The toddler lost her battle with leukemia last month.
Melia lived in the Ottawa but her family is originally from Niagara and will be attending the event.
“We will honour her,” Strange
said. “We will do a remembrance lap for her.”
This eighth annual Heater’s Heroes Run for Children, presented by the Fallsview Hose Brigade, will be held Aug. 11 starting at noon.
The laps will go until about 5 p.m., and entertainment will continue at the park until 10 p.m.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.
Other activities will include live music, food, a car show, inflatables and train rides.
Strange launched the fundraiser in 2011 in honour of Robert (Heater) Lavelle.
“He was a mentor of mine,” said Strange, a former Olympic boxer and current city councillor.
“I was an amateur athlete at the time, and athletes don’t have a lot of money, and he helped me collect funds to continue with my training.
“He’s the reason I got to go to my third Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.”
Lavelle was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008. He died the following year.
Lavelle had organized a number of successful charity events over the years and Strange wanted to carry with his mentor’s legacy of helping others.
To date, Heaters Heroes has raised about $85,000.
Funds raised assist children and their families to offset the cost of their medical journey.
Proceeds from the annual event have also helped send children to sporting events and to meet their idols, as well as giving one former “hero” his own set of drums.
“He beat cancer and now he plays in a band and he’ll be playing at the event,” Strange said.
The event will also benefit Heartland Forest.
For further information, visit www.heatersheroes.ca.