The Family Services Windsor-Essex Counselling Advocacy Centre is getting a funding boost thanks to a local initiative that supports the LGBTQ community.
The Run for Rocky Legacy Project was set up to support gay-straight alliances in local schools, fund LGBTQ education for educators, provide support and education for parents who have LGBTQ children and to support local efforts in the LGBTQ community.
Run for Rocky was a charity run and walk that took place in Windsor for five years, inspired by Rocky Campana who passed away in 2012 after attempting to take his own life.
After several years of runs, the legacy fund was established.
On Thursday, Nancy and Rob Campana, co-founders of The Run for Rocky Legacy Project, announced a $10,000 donation to Family Services Windsor-Essex.
Nancy said counselling services are needed now more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As students no longer have the support of their Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs at school the feeling of isolation, loneliness and anxiety can be greater than ever for LGBTQ+ youth," she said. "As well, with families spending more time than ever together family dynamics may be more contentious and stressful for many. It is with this in mind we realize the great need for counselling and to talk to someone to help ease the anxiety, the feeling of great isolation and hopelessness."
On Thursday, Mayor Drew Dilkens officially declared April 9 as 'Run for Rocky Day.'
https://twitter.com/drewdilkens/status/1248377705654964226
