The Final Run For Rocky

 

The Run for Rocky, will be holding the run for

the last time in 2017.

 

The Campana family, along with the Windsor

Pride Community, Education and Resource

Centre created the Run For Rocky, as the

first of its kind in Ontario.

Hundreds of people have ran and walked

for the past four years raising money to support

the newly initiated Gay-Straight Alliances in the

public school systems in Windsor-Essex inspired

by Rocky Campana who died in 2012 after taking his own life.

This will be the fifth and final Run For Rocky event

being held in the city of Windsor.

 

“When we began the Run for Rocky we set a goal

of a five-year period to create change in our

community,” said Nancy Campana,

Rocky’s mother and event coordinator.

“It is important to our family, for the sake of

Rocky’s memory, to end the event on a very high note.”

 

The organization hit many landmarks over the first four years,

especially when the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board decided

their students needed this type of help.

They then began to support the efforts of the Run for Rocky.

GSAs in the local high school and post-secondary school

systems have ensured that parents, educators and youth

have the knowledge and funding needed to help create a “Safe Schools” environment.

 

The Run for Rocky funding model includes

education programs for parents, youth and educators,

GSA leadership mentoring programs,

youth mental health awareness programs,

youth suicide prevention programming for all

students and scholarship opportunities

for those involved in their GSAs.

 

“I have friends and family who are gay, lesbian, bi etc.  

It’s something that hits close to home when

people degrade those who are ‘different’ than

them because these are people I love and care about,”

said first time 2016 participant Pauline Fenton.

“I think building up acceptance for all kinds of ‘love’

is important and needs to be done more.”

 

In the four years that Run For Rocky has been held in Windsor,

a total of $269,442 has been raised.

The 5th Run for Rocky, will be held on April 9, 2017,

and will be the finale Run For Rocky Run/Walk.

You can sign up as a participant, volunteer, or submit a pledge at http://www.runforrocky.com.