For Lawrence Vera, participating alone in the Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake wasn’t enough. He wanted to rally others to do the same, and make the biggest impact possible.
As head coach of the Titans Baseball Club – a Newmarket team for players ages 15 to 18 – he’s rallied the players and their families to join him in supporting their hospital. Players have turned to Southlake for everything from muscle sprains and strains to x-rays for injured arms and legs and even head injuries from being hit by a rogue baseball. But Lawrence has also seen family members of players depend on the hospital for surgery, diagnostic testing, and even cancer care. One of the parents is even a nurse at the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, making that connection even closer.
“We want to make sure we support our community and our hospital because it takes care of our players,” said Lawrence. “Now it’s time for us to take care of our hospital.”
Staying active is no challenge for the Titans. These serious and competitive athletes train eight hours a week, 11 months of the year. But participating in the SL5K Virtual Challenge is about so much more than staying fit.
It’s about giving back.
When Lawrence heard about the event, he saw it as a perfect opportunity for the whole team to do something great for the community together and has encouraged everyone on the team – including their families – to get involved by either registering, or donating.
“We chose this event because it will be a really unique experience for players and their families to get some healthy exercise. And the fact that it supports our hospital made it a no brainer.”
And with the changes to this year’s event with the new virtual model, it’s made it even easier for Lawrence to participate with his own family. The flexible timing makes it easier for his young kids, and they have some different activities planned right in their own backyard to rack up their kilometres.
Lawrence and the entire Titans Baseball Club team are making sure that Southlake can continue to provide leading edge care for their team and their family, friends and neighbours, when they need it most. Will you join them? Visit runforsouthlake.ca to donate to the event, or help any participant or team reach their fundraising goal.
Want to get involved? Register today at runforsouthlake.ca and join us September 23rd to 27th, 2020 for the SL5K Virtual Challenge – a virtual 5-day kilometre challenge to see just how much ground you can cover to support your local hospital. Fun for all ages and abilities, participate in ANY distance-based activity (run, walk, bike, row…whatever strikes your mood!) with ANY distance goal.
