• More than 1,300 participants filled Memorial Park for the third annual Stouffville Main Street 5K on Father’s Day morning.
  • The event supports the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation through community fundraising.
  • Mayor Iain Lovatt presented a $330,000 cheque to the Foundation, which included more than $40,000 raised by runners.
  • Lovatt thanked participants and highlighted the community’s impact on hospital services and equipment.
  • Foundation CEO Suzette Strong noted that 100 percent of funds raised support essential, non-government-funded hospital needs.
  • Local runner Marek St. Croix posted the fastest time, finishing in 16 minutes and 33 seconds.
  • Thirteen-year-old record-setter Sawyer Nicholson was the fastest female finisher and offered pre-race motivation to participants.

 

Memorial Park buzzed with energy on Father’s Day morning as more than 1,300 runners, joggers, walkers, and spectators gathered for the third annual Stouffville Main Street 5K. Hosted by the Town and the Office of Mayor Iain Lovatt, $330,000 has been raised in support of Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) this year.

Over the last three years, Stouffville has raised over $875,000 for MSH. Opening the event, Mayor Lovatt applauded participants for their efforts.

“Thank you for your hard work and dedication to fundraising. In our first two years of this event, we have raised over $545,000,” Lovatt told the crowd. “Your donations directly support lifesaving equipment and essential services at Markham Stouffville Hospital.”

This year’s cheque presentation included more than $40,000 raised by participating runners. Additional fundraising and sponsorships brought the 5K event total to $110,000, with the remaining funds coming from the Mayor’s 2025 Charity Golf Classic.

“Today is more than just about giving back. It’s about celebrating the compassionate, selfless, and dedicated frontline healthcare workers who care for us, for our families, our friends, and our loved ones every single day,” Lovatt said.

Markham Stouffville Hospital is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, having been built in 1990 on land donated by Stouffville’s Arthur Latcham. Suzette Strong, CEO of the MSH Foundation, thanked the Mayor and Town Staff while emphasizing the importance of community-driven fundraising.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that the government doesn’t fund everything,” said Strong. “Of the funds raised today, 100% of those proceeds go back into the hospital to invest in important things like beds, incubators, and diagnostic services. So thank you for being a part of raising money to keep Markham Stouffville Hospital on the leading edge of healthcare.”

The race also featured standout performances by local athletes. Seventeen-year-old Marek St. Croix took first place with a time of 16 minutes and 33 seconds, improving on his fifth-place finish last year. Remy Chadwick placed second at 16:43, followed by Sebastian Blair Reynoso in third at 17:02.

Thirteen-year-old Sawyer Nicholson, the Stouffville runner who set a world record at age 11 for the fastest 5K in her age group, was the first female to cross the finish line. She placed 10th overall with a time of 18 minutes and 13 seconds.

Before the race, Nicholson shared words of encouragement with the crowd, recounting how she discovered running during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since broken more than 10 records.

“Back then, I didn’t know how that first run would change me. But it did, step by step. It gave me clarity, it gave me strength, and most importantly, it gave me hope,” she said.

“Every step you take supports the Markham Stouffville Hospital, a place that has been there for so many of our families, neighbours, and friends,” Nicholson added. “So if you’re feeling nervous or unsure of how far or how fast you’ll go today, just remember every journey begins with a single step. Those first few steps you take could be the beginning of something that changes your life, just like it changed mine.”