Move for Youth Looks to Expand Rural Focus

The Move for Youth Challenge is making a huge difference in the lives of young people across Eastern Ontario.

Together with National Bank and Centraide Outaouais, the incentive rallies communities every spring to raise awareness and funds for programs that support kids in need.

That’s Trisha Islam, Director, All That Kids Can Be, United Way East Ontario.

This year, from May 1-15, the region’s communities stepped up to the challenge in a big way, as 1,017 participants totaled more than 105 million steps and helped raise $141,645. That brings our five-year Move for Youth fundraising total to $472,949!

Islam says the impressive total is linked to the universality of mental health awareness concerns

The mental health crisis has been especially hard on kids.

According to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS), 37 per cent of students in Grades 7-12 in Ottawa report fair or poor mental health. ‘

Depending on where in the region you live, the faces of substance abuse are different.

Trisha says we also know that poor mental health and wellbeing, thoughts about attempting suicide, and self-harm behaviours are more prevalent among young people who are already marginalized.

Additionally, youth from low-income or rural communities often don’t have the same access to after-school activities or summer programs

Islam, Director, All That Kids Can Be, United Way East Ontario isn’t just busy for two weeks during the annual Move for Youth Campaign.

To find out more about Move for Youth and to register for next year’s challenge, visit moveforyouth.ca.

By Rick Stow