The first pajama walk in Owen Sound in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month smashed all expectations over the weekend.
Childcan Community Engagement and Communications Associate Amy Mathias says the walk on Sunday at Harrison Park saw a large turnout.
“This was the first time it was officially up in Owen Sound, last year there was a team that had come together. This time we had over 130 people come out, six different teams,” says Mathias. “Seeing people out in their pajamas in the park, taking steps, raising awareness, we ask people to wear pajamas because they are standing in solidarity with the kids who wear their pajamas throughout their cancer treatment.”
Prior to the Owen Sound walk, Childcan exceeded its goal of raising $5,000. While they are still calculating the totals, Mathias says they ended up raising $20,000.
“That came part of a total that was more than $100,000 in the five events that we had across the entire Childcan region,” says Mathias.
The funds will go to support Childcan’s operations, which Mathias says includes supporting both children and families as they navigate treatment at the London Children’s Hospital.
“Childcan is there with a hotel room, there is parking passes, hospital meal vouchers, so much more and then financial help with bills because while they are down in London, those bills continue to rack up at a time when somebody has probably had to take time off work in order to stay with the sick child. Childcan is there from the moment that child is diagnosed and we support financially and also emotionally and socially as well. We also fund research into better treatment options,” says Mathias.
Childcan plans to make the walk an annual fundraiser in Owen Sound.