NEWS RELEASE

ROYAL VICTORIA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE

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RBC Race for the Kids returns this fall with proceeds set to help Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre’s (RVH) baby and youth psychological well being program.

This distinctive occasion permits members to customise their participation by figuring out their distance, exercise, and race date. This provides extra folks the chance to help essential youth psychological well being providers for younger folks from throughout Simcoe-Muskoka.

In the final yr, over 600 youngsters beneath the age of 18 visited RVH’s emergency room due to a psychological well being disaster, and near 1,500 youngsters and youth had been handled in certainly one of RVH’s baby and youth psychological well being care providers. These numbers are anticipated to rise as youngsters proceed to take care of the lingering results of the pandemic resulting in elevated charges of despair, anxiousness, and different psychological well being circumstances. RVH’s baby and youth psychological well being program is a essential useful resource for Simcoe-Muskoka-area youngsters. Events like RBC Race for the Kids assist increase much-needed funds in the direction of the growth of those life-saving applications.

“We’re so grateful that RBC has once again chosen RVH as the benefactor of RBC Race for the Kids,” mentioned Pamela Ross, CEO of RVH Foundation. “As many parents will testify, the pandemic left lasting, negative effects on the mental health of our children, which in turn impacts the entire family. We’re fortunate to have partners like RBC who recognize the vital importance of prioritizing and funding child and youth mental health programs like ours. The generous support of RBC and the whole community ensures that RVH can continue to offer life-saving mental health care for young people when and where it is needed most.”

Now in its third yr, RBC Race for the Kids in Simcoe-Muskoka has reworked from a virtual-only occasion to a hybrid mannequin the place members should supply digital help or take part individual with a community-wide celebration set to happen at Allandale Station Park alongside Barrie’s waterfront on Oct. 15, 2023.

“We’re thrilled to offer an in-person component to this year’s RBC Race for the Kids to help young people who are struggling,” mentioned Ronda MacPherson, vice-president, industrial monetary providers at RBC. “We know that strong social and community connections have a positive impact on our mental health. To be able to rally the community behind RBC Race for the Kids and RVH’s youth mental health initiatives in a fun, friendly, and accessible way is a great way to support child and youth mental health in our region.”

This yr, RVH hopes to boost a complete of $100,000 by means of RBC Race for the Kids in help of its baby and youth psychological well being applications. Registration begins July 27, 2023 and stays open by means of October. For extra data on this occasion, and learn how to take part, go to keeplifewild.ca.

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