Families Gather at Wesley Clover Parks for CHEO Race for the Kids, Raising More Than 1 Million Dollars

Families, runners, and volunteers gathered at Wesley Clover Parks in west Ottawa on Sunday for RBC Race for the Kids, a community fundraising event supporting CHEO.

A range of events for a range of participants
The October 4 event included timed 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre races, as well as accessible 2-kilometre family fun runs that allowed strollers and dogs. The CHEO Foundation promoted the event as part of its effort to support the children’s hospital and future health care projects, and participants could run, walk, or wheel through closed courses at the park. Activities at the site included games, music, food, and a family fun zone, reflecting a deliberately broad format meant to include families with young children alongside competitive runners.

More than one million dollars raised
CTV News reported that the event raised more than 1 million dollars for CHEO, as thousands of runners and walkers took part. The CHEO Foundation has not published the final, detailed breakdown of funds and how they will be allocated as of this writing. Treat that figure as the total reported on event day, not a final audited number.

A neighbourhood event with a regional reach
Wesley Clover Parks is located at 401 Corkstown Road in west Ottawa, close to the Kanata and Bells Corners communities. The event matters at the neighbourhood level because it combines a major local health institution with a community gathering in west Ottawa, rather than functioning only as an online fundraising campaign. CHEO serves children and families across Ottawa and eastern Ontario, but community fundraising events like this remain one of the direct ways residents contribute to equipment, research, and future hospital projects.

What would make a strong follow up
The strongest follow-up reporting would include the final audited fundraising total once the CHEO Foundation publishes it, a confirmed participant count, and details on how the proceeds will be allocated across specific CHEO programs. Original photographs and brief conversations with participating families or volunteers would also add useful neighbourhood perspective if NordoVista covers a future edition of the event in person. Sunday’s gathering shows how a large regional institution can stay connected to neighbourhood-level civic life through local volunteers, families, and community fundraising.