Kirsty (Coco) Carson is a dedicated mom.
The Sault woman will be running 400 km throughout the city during the month of May - approximately 12 kilometres per day - to raise funds for Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.
The hospital, commonly known as SickKids, is where Carson’s son Bryce goes for regular checkups.
Bryce, now nine, was diagnosed with Williams syndrome at birth.
SooToday reported on Bryce's condition in 2020.
The syndrome, which occurs in one in 10,000 births, is characterized by developmental issues and may also be accompanied by heart problems.
Bryce underwent the ordeal of a seven-hour heart operation at SickKids when he was only five months old.
“He's in Grade 3 at St. Basil School now and he has a dedicated one-to-one educational assistant. He's been medically stable, which is great, but he's still cared for here in the Sault by Dr. Kirk Zufelt.
"We continue to take trips to SickKids because he'll always be seen by specialists due to the complexity of Williams syndrome,” Kirsty told SooToday.
Williams syndrome is comparable to Down syndrome.
“He's nine, but intellectually he's probably closer to being like a six-year-old. People with Williams syndrome tend to have very low muscle tone, so Bryce’s strength will always be affected. The heart issue is the most significant thing and doctors will have to follow it for all of his life. It's something that has to be continuously monitored,” Kirsty said.
Despite the health concerns, Bryce is known for being a happy child.
“He's faced so much adversity but he has such a joyful spirit. He’s charming and he has a heart that just draws people in. Every day is full of laughter. His personality overcomes any stress that's related to having a child with special needs,” Kirsty said.
Bryce is also a Special Olympian.
“He can tire so easily but he ran the 100, 200 and 400 metres and the long jump last year in North Bay. That was his first year and he’ll be competing in North Bay again this year,” said Kirsty, who is a Special Olympics coach.
Kirsty is an experienced runner who participated in the 2025 Boston Marathon April 21, finishing in three hours and 34 minutes.
That accomplishment has inspired her to run for Bryce and other sick children.
“I figured I'd channel that momentum into what’s called The Million Reasons Run. It's a fundraising organization. For the month of May you can choose to join and you set a goal of how much you're going to run and achieve in that month and mine is 400 km,” Kirsty said.
Funds raised through The Million Reasons Run goes to the hospital of a runner’s choice.
“I picked SickKids because they got us through some of our hardest times and will continue to get us through but there are also so many other kids and so many other families that I know in the Sault that rely on SickKids,” Kirsty said.
She does not have a specific dollar amount she wishes to reach in her 400 km fundraiser.
“Every little bit helps. It's about giving back to a hospital that helps us and so many other families,” Kirsty said.
Making a donation to her fundraiser is easy.
“You just go to the website and then you can search for a person. If you just key in Coco Carson in the top right corner where it says 'Find a Friend' then it'll take you to another page and you'll see Bryce's picture pop up and that's my fundraising page,” Kirsty said.
“It's not just about supporting Bryce for his ongoing care . . . it's for a lot of kids in the Sault that will benefit. I want to give back,” Kirsty said.