The SOSJ Fun Run/Walk for Palliative Care is a great event for Barrhaven runners (and walkers!) 

Mark it in your calendar:

The 2nd Annual SOSJ Fun Run/Walk for Palliative Care 

9:00 a.m., September 29, 2018,

At the Nepean Sportsplex beside the soccer fields.

There are plenty of runs and walks during the year and most of them are organized to raise funds for very worthwhile causes. In addition, they provide participants with an opportunity to get outside, exercise, and have fun with friends and family! They also allow you to meet new people and maybe make new friends! Our event is no different!

What makes the SOSJ Fun Run/Walk event special is the timing and the location – and the fact that it is about having fun! There are door prizes to be won and all finishers will receive a beautiful medal to remember the event. Participants are invited to run, walk or wheel through the natural beauty of the forested trails of the NCC. Located behind the Nepean Sportsplex, these hiking and walking trails may be in the city but you will feel like you are taking a leisurely walk through a country forest. And with the trees in full fall colours, you will surely feel like you are in a truly special place! So, come on out, bring your friends and family. Enjoy the beauty while raising money for a very worthwhile cause.

The SOSJ Run/Walk is dedicated to raising funds to support palliative and hospice care in Ottawa. While none of us like to think about dying or end of life issues, we all want to ensure that, when our time does come, that we can leave this world with peace and dignity. Palliative care, when done right and properly funded, provides medical and non-medical supports that allow patients to experience their last days in a non-hospital like setting, spending time with friends and family, comforted and supported in their final days. Many of us in the community know from personal experience how important palliative and hospice care is in helping ease the pain of losing a loved one.

The Sovereign Order of St John has been in the business of hospice and hospital care for more than 900 years and as a result, we know a thing or two about the importance of quality care. Originating in Jerusalem in the 11th century, the Order currently has Chapters in cities across Canada and around the world. The Ontario Chapter is new but builds on the tradition and expertise of our other Canadian chapters in Vancouver and Victoria. Our goal is to partner with community hospices and raise funds for critical services and equipment. A major strength of our organization is that 100% of the funds we raise goes directly to palliative and hospice services. Because all of our events are organized by volunteers and any associated costs are covered by participant fees, any money you donate goes entirely to charity and you will receive a receipt for any and all donations!

One of our projects of which we are very proud of was to help support the Ottawa Mission renovate their nursing station at the Diane Morrison Hospice. This hospice serves the dying homeless and they were able to increase their beds from 14 to 21 with the renovation of the nursing station and the purchase of some new equipment.

So why not come out and join us on Saturday, September 29th at 9:00 a.m. and help us help others. If you would like, after the run, for $30.00 (no charge for kids under the age of 12) you can join us for a barbeque lunch (off-site) and get to know some of your fellow runners and walkers… who knows who you’ll meet!

To register, donate and/or learn more about our event please visit:  https://www.events.runningroom.com/applications/?raceId=15597&eventId=46114&vrindex=3 or contact Melanie at Melanie.sosj@gmail.com .

Follow the run’s Facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/Fun-Run-for-Palliative-Care-SOSJ-Ontario-1854579104790244/

To learn more about the Sovereign Order of St John and what we do, visit our website at http://www.sosjinternational.org

We would also like to thank our sponsors who help us to make this event a success. Thank you to Bitches Walking Dogs; a local dog walking service for their financial support. Thanks also to Thyme and Again and Ferme Leve-Tot for donating door prizes! And to Sobeys Barrhaven for supplying participants with bananas and oranges for munching on at the finish. One of our members, Melanie Rock is also donating two copies of her book, The Lost Treasure of Malta, as door prizes. The fiction book is a fast-paced, exciting adventure set on Malta and is a fun way of learning more about the SOSJ’s origins. It can also be purchased at amazon.ca. This is an ongoing fundraiser as Melanie kindly donates all proceeds from its sale to the Ontario Commandery.

Come out and join us on September 29th and join in the fun!

Daryl R.
Commander, SOSJ
Ontario Commandery