OTTAWA — 09/24/2023 – Today the Ottawa community came out to support youth mental health in the RBC Race for the Kids event raising $528,700. This brings the seven-year total to over $2 million! The demand for children’s mental health services has risen dramatically these last few years, and bolstering CHEO’s mental health programs is critical, making events like RBC Race for the Kids so important.
CHEO is one of the largest providers of child and youth mental health services. Every child or teen who comes to its doors struggling with their mental health has a unique story. Many of these stories are filled with fear and anxiety, especially after facing years of a pandemic.
Healthy children have a better chance of growing into healthy adults, so when a child’s mental health needs are not met, there can be lifelong consequences. Because challenges affect their school, home and personal lives as well as the development of life skills, it is crucial to address mental health issues as soon as possible.
“Funds from RBC Race for the Kids will continue to have an enormous impact at CHEO and throughout our community,” said Steve Read, President and CEO, CHEO Foundation. “It is thanks to RBC, our sponsors, and the wonderful people who participated in today’s event, that we can help CHEO staff in their commitment to children, youth and families.”
“Youth mental health is a cause that’s close to our hearts. It’s critical that young people get access to the help they need,” said Marjolaine Hudon, Regional President, Personal and Commercial Banking at RBC and Race Chair. “Seeing so many colleagues, families, corporate teams and friends come together to support youth in our community, year after year, is truly inspiring.”
Fundraising dollars will stay local and help to equip CHEO with the tools necessary to meet the mental health needs of children and youth – including the 1Call1Click.ca program.
1Call1Click.ca is a bilingual service designed to match kids, youth, and families, living in eastern Ontario, with the right mental health and addiction services, at the right time. It is an integrated system that delivers faster and better access to services and enables physicians and community pediatricians to focus on seeing children and youth in a timely manner. Bringing together over two dozen local providers of child and youth mental health and addiction services, this ground-breaking program is the first of its kind in Ontario.
For more information contact:
Katrina Bussey
Director of Communications
CHEO Foundation
613 738-3969
Lucie Caron
Regional Director, Communications
BC, Ontario North & East Region
[email protected]
Cell: 613 291-3520
About RBC Race for the Kids:
RBC Race for the Kids started as a single event in 2009 and is now an exciting series of charitable races taking place around the world, supporting 25 children and youth-focused causes. Altogether, the series has raised more than $82 million to date.
About CHEO:
CHEO is a pediatric health and research centre providing outstanding family-centered patient care, pioneering breakthrough research, and training the health care professionals of tomorrow.
