Run Myles Ahead event in support of child and youth mental health set for this Sunday in the Beach

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

The Myles Ahead support group for child and youth mental health will be holding its annual Run Myles Ahead event in the Beach this Sunday.

“Run Myles Ahead brings the community together and raises vital awareness and funds to continue our work driving system change,” said Dr. Shelly Kulperger, Director of Strategy, Engagement and Partnerships at Myles Ahead.

The Sunday, Oct. 5 run will commence at 10 a.m. at the Leuty Boathouse (Pavilion) at the foot of Lee Avenue and span five kilometres along the Boardwalk.

Participants can opt for running or walking along the Boardwalk as they support Run Myles Ahead.

The event will also feature a lemonade stand, bake sale, and an arts and crafts table where children are free to openly express themselves and accentuate their passion for mental health through creativity.

Run Myles Ahead will also include a silent auction, as well as opportunities to win special prizes such as ROM Family Memberships, The Running Room gift cards, Myles Ahead swag, duffel bags with sports equipment, a Fitbit courtesy of Gripple Canada, and many more prizes.

Individual registration for Run Myles Ahead is $25. For an additional $25, registration will include a t-shirt. Family registration for a group of four to five people is $100, or $200 to register and receive T-shirts.

Myles Ahead will also be accepting donations for their continued work to support mental health services in Canada at both the Oct. 5 run and also online.

Founded in 2019 by Leslie Kulperger – following the passing of her son Myles to mental health complications – Myles Ahead is dedicated to ensuring children, youth and their families/caregivers have timely access to appropriate mental health services.

“This run follows the same route Myles would take with his beloved dog, Frida, from Ashbridges Bay along the Toronto Beach Boardwalk,” said Leslie in a news release.

“What began as a family and neighbourhood initiative has grown to a community-wide event, with incredible support from local businesses and sponsors. We are dedicated to working collaboratively to ensure children and youth can access the support and services they need, when they need it.”

By supporting the integration of mental health services into the healthcare and school system, Myles Ahead aims to create a cohesive, accessible and equitable system to support those dealing with mental health complications.

To better understand current practices within Canada’s school and healthcare systems, Myles Ahead recently undertook a year-long environmental scan and assessment of services and programs available acros the country.

Their findings have helped the organization develop a systemic plan to function equitably across Canada.

Through their strategic partnerships with Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario (CMHA On) and Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO), Myles Ahead has been able to strengthen background assessment resources, and advance their strategic direction to bridge the gaps within the healthcare and school system.

According to Shelley Kulperger, Myles Ahead’s work goes beyond suicide prevention month.

Just last year, the organization worked with youth, parents, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers at SickKids hospital to advocate for changes in Canada’s proposed online harms legislation through their #FreettobeSafe campaign – and provided weekly mental health literacy resources to more than 5,000 educators across Canada through their Nurturing Minds program.

“At Myles Ahead, suicide prevention is every day, every month. Breaking down stigma and changing the narrative is very much part of our work,” said Kulperger. “We need to ensure young people — and their families — can ask for help when they need it, and this means feeling supported to speak up when they are feeling despair, distressed or overwhelmed.”

Kulperger said funding for 2025-26 will help to bolster the organization’s #FreetobeSafe campaign to educate and raise awareness about the impact of social media on youth mental health.

She said Myles Ahead is very appreciative to the sponsors, donors, and community supporters who have devoted their efforts to make the Oct. 5 run possible.

“This is our third year being part of such a fun, family-friendly local community event and we are truly honoured to partner with Myles Ahead for such an important cause.” said sponsors Michelle Walker and Matt Cassells of the Michelle Walker Team with Remax Hallmark realty.

To register to participate, fundraise, or volunteer at Run Myles Ahead, please go to https://mylesahead.ca/ and click on Activities and Events.