Running for a good cause

By Steph Crosier

BELLEVILLE, ON (08/05/201) Winners may not be important, but runners still dashed off the start line at the second annual 5km Ken Sykes run. Photo by Steph Crosier

Participants raised $14,000 at the second annual Ken Sykes run to help abused or neglected children.

Hosted by the Quinte Children’s Foundation the run took place in West Zwicks Park in Belleville. The event began at 9 a.m. with a kids’ walk and then the registered run. The run had 137 adults registered and many children do the kid’s walk.

“It’s great,” said Melissa Dunnett, program coordinator at the foundation.  “It’s sunny, there is a nice cool breeze coming off the lake, everyone was happy, we got lots of registrations, there is lots of kids and family’s out. It’s just been a really great day.”

Brandy Hodge, executive director of Quinte Children’s Foundation, explains that the money raised this year will go to the Reach for Success bursary program.

“We know that education is the primary piece of the puzzle that stops the cycle of child abuse. It’s important that all kids have access to motivation and encouragement to attend post secondary education,” said Hodge. “We will probably award between 30 and 35 bursaries.”

Half of the money raised at the run will go to this year’s bursaries and half the money will go to an endowment fund.  That way, even when the run is no longer happening, bursaries can still be given out for years to come. The bursaries are named in honour of Sykes.

“This was an important program to Ken,” said Hodge.  “Education was an important piece to Ken. That’s why we allocated it to the Reach for Success bursary program.”

Ken Sykes was a dedicated volunteer to the Belleville community and in particular Quinte Children’s Foundation. He was on the foundation’s board for seven years, and volunteered with them for years before that. Sykes was a commercial lawyer for 20 years and died suddenly of a suspected heart attack at 52 two years ago.

Ross McDougall, president of McDougall Insurance, was a close personal friend of Sykes.

“I knew Ken on three different levels. He was a close personal friend of mine for years, he was our solicitor for McDougall Insurance, and my personal solicitor,” said McDougall. “He was the one who convinced me to get involved with the Children’s Foundation.”

McDougall Insurance was the primary sponsor of the run to support children in the Belleville and Quinte community.

Jill Robinson volunteered at the event, along with many others.

“A friend of mine works for Quinte Children’s foundation and it’s obviously a very worthy cause fundraising for the kids,” said Robinson.

The event also included food provided by McDonalds in Trenton and raffle draw with prizes.

“A couple of years ago the coordinator at the time, Lyndsey Harker, wanted to do a run,” said Dunnett. “And it just kind of made sense that we coupled the passing of Ken with a run as a way to honour him.”