After two years of virtual runs, Strong Minds excitedly welcomed runners back in-person to take part in their fifth annual Run for Change.
The Machine Shop hosted the event for the first time which saw participants run 5 km on a beautiful Saturday morning. The waterfront was included in the course, making for an incredibly scenic route.
The run coincides with Children's Mental Health Week, and Strong Minds is closely partnered with Algoma Family Services to provide healthy initiatives all week long, helping boost physical and mental well-being.
Strong Minds CEO and event coordinator Amanda Lambert says the run was a huge success and she wants to see more outlets help tackle the mental health issues that exist in the community.
"Mental health is so important," she says. "We really need to have more resources and services, especially since we're beginning to come out of the pandemic. All the money we raise gets donated back to community mental health initiatives."
On top of raising money, the run was also aimed at ending the stigma associated with mental health and addictions.
Following the event, runners gathered at OutSpoken Brewing for an after-party.