Jeff Bell wrote the following excerpt about our recent fundraiser for the Youth Clinic in a Times Colonist article this month:
Running for youth health resources
Central Saanich police are hosting a 24-hour running fundraiser to raise funds for a youth clinic in Sidney.
Corporal Pat Bryant and police board member Sarah Riddell plan to run a 4.64-kilometre lap around Central Saanich’s Centennial Park every hour for 24 hours, starting at noon on Saturday, July 19.
The run, dubbed the CS Police 24-Hour Backyard Ultra, was created last year to raise funds for the Saanich Peninsula Youth Clinic, which serves people ages 12 to 24 in a free and confidential setting.
The clinic is operated almost solely with donor funding, and Ridell said their goal this year is to raise $10,000 to help with its mental, sexual and general health services provided without requiring a referral, health card or parent.
Bryant started the run last year with another Central Saanich police officer, but this is Riddell’s first attempt. She has experience with long-distance running and said she’s been training extensively to make sure she’s prepared for the challenge.
Riddell said it can be tricky to stay motivated while running overnight, but she’ll be thinking about the cause during tough moments, adding that Bryant will also help her stay on course.
“We’re going to have each other,” she said, noting she’s hopeful people will come out to support them throughout the night.
“It’s joyful — it’s a fun event. It’s a chance to bring people together,” she said.
Riddell encourages community members to come to the park during the fundraiser to either join in for a lap or spend time cheering from the sidelines.
Grace Warren, the clinic’s peer educator program coordinator, said she’s looking forward to supporting the runners and spreading awareness about the services her team provides.
She said people often say they wish they’d heard about the clinic sooner, pointing to an increased demand for youth-centred health services in recent years.
The clinic, which began as a pilot project in 2018, offers free supplies on top of its clinical services, like menstrual products and sexual health resources.
“Our donations go a really long way,” said Warren. “The community’s donations and support makes such a difference for us,” she said.
A link to the fundraising page can be found on the Central Saanich Police Department website at cspolice.ca.
Photo Credit: Sarah Riddell
