Record breaking Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake raises critical funds for leading edge care, close to home for patients and families
Over $460,000 raised, marking a best-ever fundraising result for the event.
Newmarket ON – Community spirit was on full display at the 2025 Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake, where over 1660 participants walked, ran, and fundraised to support critical needs across Southlake Health.
Over $460,000 was raised in total by the event, with 123 registered teams competing for top fundraising awards across multiple categories. The 2025 event was the most successful, in both fundraising and participation, in the 23-year history of Southlake Health Foundation hosting it.
Runners and walkers, along with their supporters, gathered in the early morning of Sunday, April 27 at the Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place for opening ceremonies, then took to historic Davis Drive for a five kilometre route that took them directly past the hospital.
“We are so thrilled to see another year of incredible results,” said Joe D’Addario, Co-Founder and CEO of Nature’s Emporium, who celebrated their 13th year of partnership as the event’s Title Sponsor. “Our more than decade-long partnership is a key way that Nature’s Emporium gives back to the communities that support us and every year our team is inspired by the positive impact we all make together.”
A total of 123 teams participated in the event and competed for fundraising awards in five different categories. Fundraising challenge winners are:
· Corporate & Business Team Challenge Winner: Compass Food Sales
· Community Friends & Family Challenge Winner: Fun-Raisers
· School Challenge Winner: Aurora Montessori School
· Mayors Challenge Winner: Team EG (East Gwillimbury)
· Hospital Family Challenge Winner: Baby, We Were Born To Run!!!
A sixth additional award was added in 2022 – the Community Spirit Award – which goes to the municipality that has over sixty percent of council members participate and largest per capita citizen registration. The winning municipality for this year’s event is the Town of Newmarket.
In addition to Nature’s Emporium, Southlake Health Foundation extends a special thank you to event sponsors who were integral to the success of the event, including: Magna International, RBC, Upper Canada Mall, Boland Romaine LLP, BUNN, Chartwell Retirement Residences, COBS Bread, Crank Coffee, Guardian Pharmacy at Southlake, Gwillimdale Farms, GEM Healthcare Services, Harvey’s, Highland GM, Kawartha Dairy, MyoDynamic Health, Newmarket Today, Pattison, Pfaff, Print Graphics Inc., Speedstaff, Sports Medicine Centre of Excellence, and Tim Horton’s.
Southlake Health Foundation President and CEO, Jennifer Ritter was thrilled by the community support and fundraising success of this year’s event.
“To be able to say for two consecutive years that we’ve had the most successful Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake is incredible. I am so proud of our communities for uniting to show their support and commitment to Southlake Health and all the clinicians, staff, and volunteers who work tirelessly to provide leading edge care to our loved ones, friends, and families. From our dedicated group of volunteers, to our participants who fundraised so passionately, to our community leaders who provided support and insight, and sponsors whose generosity helped to deliver the best experience for our participants, we couldn’t be more grateful for everyone coming together to achieve another best year in support of Southlake.”
Funds raised from this year’s event will support critical needs across Southlake, including the purchase of things like day-to-day equipment essential for patient comfort and care and advanced technology for clinicians across the hospital as they provide leading edge care to patients and families.
