About 500 people took part in the annual Joggin’ for a Noggin’ event at Bowness Park in Calgary on Sunday, with Global’s Leslie Horton on hand for MC duties.
It’s a walk and run to raise money to send children who have had brain or spinal surgery to camp.
“Neurosurgery kids can have anything from simple surgeries up to very complex, serious surgeries,” event organizer Kelly Bullivant said. “They can be greatly affected in their daily lives or they can be people who you would never know have something going on, but do have some medical needs.”
Bullivant is a neurosurgery nurse practitioner who works at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
“They inspire me every day in what I do.”
With the money raised from last year’s run, 35 neurosurgery kids were able to go to Camp Easter Seals near Bragg Creek in the summer.
“Camp Easter Seals is equipped for all kinds of medical disabilities and conditions and so they take remarkable care of our kids and allow the families to have a break,” Bullivant said. “The kids were there for a week and they just have fun with their peers. They forget that they have a diagnosis and they are just able to be kids and it’s really a remarkable experience.”
Bullivant said the community support has been amazing and the event has doubled its numbers since last year.
“The support from all of our friends and families in Calgary has been amazing and we are really pleased.”
It costs around $1,240 to send one child to camp. The plan is to send 40 young people to camp this year with the funds raised.
Camp Easter Seals created Camp Everest South for Neurosurgery kids ages seven to 17 years old from the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Camp Everest South, within Camp Easter Seals, is located in Kananaskis Country, near Bragg Creek.