Sully’s Monster Dash raises $10K in first year

Runners make their way through Holiday Beach Conservation Area during last Saturday morning’s “Sully Monster Dash.”

The family of young Sully Lowe wanted to give back to the hospital that helped him with his health issues, and over 150 people joined them.

The first-ever “Sully’s Monster Dash” was held last Saturday morning at Holiday Beach Conservation Area with a one-kilometre “kids dash” followed by the 5K run/walk/wheel, with many participants in costume.

Brian Lowe said they had more people turn out than they expected. 

“We’re at about 150 people, maybe more,” he said. “There have been a couple of walk-ins.”

Sully’s Giving Back, an initiative led by the Lowe family of Amherstburg, presented “Sully’s Monster Dash” last Saturday at Holiday Beach Conservation Area. Sully Lowe has been a patient at Children’s Hospital at the London Health Sciences Centre so the $10,000 in proceeds went there. Sully was in the “kids’ dash” with dad Brian helping him.

The Amherstburg family expressed their thanks to the participants, sponsors, donors and others who supported the run. Brian said a lot of people came from Amherstburg to participate, but also from around Essex County and Windsor as well. There were people from London that came down for the run/walk/wheel as well, Brian stated.

“It’s been a really good turnout for the first year,” he said. “We were expecting about 50 so this is three times what we were expecting.”

Brian added they expect to net a total of $10,000 for the London Children’s Health Foundation. 

The London hospital assisted Sully through a number of health issues. Sully was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s Disease when he was only two-days-old. He was able to be part of the kids’ dash last Saturday morning and his family has founded the group “Sully’s Giving Back” as a way to help show their appreciation for support they’ve received and to pay that support forward.

About 20 volunteers helped with the event with service clubs, other charitable organizations, the Amherstburg Fire Department and Windsor Police Service – Amherstburg Detachment also on hand.

“We’re going to do it again next year,” Brian added of “Sully’s Monster Dash.”

Kait added they are always grateful for the support of the community, noting helping the London Health Sciences Centre and its children’s hospital “hits home for a lot of people.” 

“I can’t say enough good things about the community,” she added.

Kait added they were happy to give back to the “reverse trick or treat” the hospital had, with the support of Canadian Tire donations. The “reverse trick or treat” sees staff at the hospital dress up and deliver candy to patients’ rooms at Halloween.

Jennifer Baxter, director of community relations and events with the Children’s Health Foundation, said it was “remarkable” and “fantastic” to see the response to “Sully’s Monster Dash.” She said there are roughly 11,000 visits to their hospital from this area every year, and the run/walk/wheel helps bring awareness of the children’s hospital and what it does.

The hospital looks after all of western Ontario, she said, and while there are a lot of fundraisers in the London area, they always welcome more in other areas.

Sully’s Monster Dash raises $10K in first year

By Ron Giofu