Run for Rocky’s third year draws hundreds

Victoria Parent Converged Citizen Staff

Hundreds of people came out on a sunny April Sunday morning to run for an important cause and celebrate the life of a young Windsor man.

The Run for Rocky event was held at Dieppe Gardens in downtown Windsor to help support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer community and Gay Straight Alliances in Windsor. People from Windsor schools and companies took part in a 1.5 kilometre run to help support this cause. For some, it was a first time while others had taken part before.

“We’re here with the John McGregor Secondary School’s GSA,” said Denise Helmer-Johnston, a teacher from Chatham. “We actually brought quite a few students and our family members.”

The first two Run for Rocky events raised more than $120,000 with overwhelming company and community support. The 2013 event was the first in Ontario to raise money to support the newly initiated GSAs in the school system.

People from around Windsor and Essex County showed up to support the event, as well as local companies and church communities. One church community was the Metropolitan Community Church’s Windsor branch.

“It’s important personally and for my ministry, so MCC in Toronto is developing a ministry for a mental health and we recognize that LGBTQ youth are experiencing depression, anxiety and dying from suicide,” said Sandra Morris, a clergy candidate from the MCC.

The MCC helps provide people with community support, a safe place and an extended family. The church has locations all over the world including France and Germany.

“I think, going forward, what we would like to do is network with the community and it seems to be quite strong in Windsor now in the last three years thanks to this run,” said Morris.

 The funds brought in through the 2015 run will be used to help expand support of educational programming for both parents and local youth at the school level. It ensures that Gay-Straight Alliances start at home and are reinforced in a supportive and accepting school environment.