Community Strong Festival supports mental health programs

The first annual Community Strong Festival aims to celebrate the lives of those who were lost to mental health issues and fund-raise for those who still need help.

The event grew out of the Sault Ste. Marie Marathon in memory of Brett Provenzano and will feature races from a full marathon to a 5k colour run.

The AFS Foundation and Sault Ste. Marie YMCA will use the money raised to provide programs to help those struggling.

For more information, please see the press release included below.  

The AFS Foundation is excited to partner with the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA to further support youth in our community. The Community Strong Festival team will be hosting our first annual fundraising event weekend. This event is designed to raise desperately needed funds and bring awareness to physical and mental health issues in our community. Our event will consist of a variety of races over the course of the weekend as well as many family activities including a marathon, half-marathon, 15km, 10km, 5km colour run and for those ready to test their abilities at 61km run starting at the Machine Shop in Sault Ste. Marie on June 24 - 26, 2022.

A festival not only to celebrate the lives of those lost but to engage our community, link the benefits of physical and mental health and raise much-needed funds to help those still struggling. All monies collected will remain local and be shared equally between the AFS Foundation and the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA.

Research has proven that early intervention and treatment are critical to providing a hopeful and healthy future for all of our community's children. Every year in Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma district there are thousands of children who struggle with their mental health and can't access basic recreation.

Race events will be split up over two days with the longer distances being run on Saturday and the shorter distances on the Sunday. These are all ages events with multiple chances to participate.

This fun filled weekend will raise funds to help support multiple programs for youth and families in the Algoma District supported by the AFS Foundation and YMCA Sault Ste. Marie.

Various levels of sponsorship are available. For a list of sponsorship opportunities, please contact Natasha Collett at (705) 945-5718 x 232 or natasha.collett@ssmymca.ca. To register for the event please visit this site Registration deadline is Wednesday June 22, 2022 at 5 p.m.

For more information about the event please contact, Paige Linklater at (705) 945-5050 x 2670 or plinklater@afsfoundation.ca and visit our social media pages: Facebook (Community Strong Festival) and Instagram (SaultStrong).