The Fourth Annual Run for Rocky is almost upon us.

The Run for Rocky is one of the area’s first run/walks funding raising events of the season.

The only Community Event of its kind in Canada this event is unique in funding Gay Straight Alliances in local high schools and post-secondary school institutions.  In a recent report published by The Manitoba’s Teachers Society research published in this document shows that GSA’s are not only helping support LGBTQ students in high schools but also helping to save lives.

Each year funds from the “Run for Rocky” are directed to two primary areas. The first area of funding goes directly to the Windsor Pride Community, Resource and Education Centre.  The Pride Centre relies solely on community support and grants to keep their doors open, and the Centre has seen a larger influx of traffic though their doors since the exposure raised with the “Run for Rocky”.

The second area of funding goes directly into the Windsor/Essex high school and post-secondary school systems to support the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Safe Schools Program. In addition, there is funding to initiate education programs for parents of LGBT youth and their allies, educators and students alike.  Paramount is the support of ongoing GSA student leadership development and mentoring programming, anti-bullying programs, youth mental health issues, and LGBTQ matters, only a few of the vital components within the “Run for Rocky” funding model.

Without funding, Gay-Straight Alliances are insignificant.  Egale Canada has recognized the “Run for Rocky” as a first, a unique funding formula for high school GSAs in Canada.  Each year “Run for Rocky” publishes how funds are spent to ensure transparency and guarantee the local community that the large majority of funds are being spent right here in our community.

“This is a Family Event” explains Nancy Campana.  Everyone in our community can now say “yes” if you ask the question-“Do you have a gay relative”.   This was not always the case, as many family members felt the need to hide this information.  “Run for Rocky” gives families a chance to come out and support their LGBTQ family members and parents to say “Yes I have a gay son, lesbian daughter or  bisexual  or  transgender child and they need support by the school system and the community”.

For more information or to register to run or walk on Sunday, April 17^th please visit the Run For Rocky website.

Feature photo: In Play! magazine