2022 RJ 5K 4 Kids: Kick Off!

May 19, 2022

On Friday, May 6, the second annual Raymond James 5K 4 Kids kicked off with a little bit of sunshine and a lot of friendly competition!  Our Raymond James Ltd. colleagues from across Canada gathered outside the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver to cap off our National Business Conference with a team walk/run along the beautiful Stanley Park seawall.

“The energy was incredible,” shares Jamie Coulter, Chief Executive Officer of Raymond James Ltd. “It was great to see so many smiling faces participating in the RJ 5K 4 Kids together in person for the first time.”

And this is just the beginning! Until June 10th, colleagues nationwide will be completing 5K any way – run, cycle, paddle, or dance! – in support of Drug Free Kids Canada and Little Warriors. This virtual fundraising initiative gives us the opportunity to get fit, stay connected, and give back. In 2021 we raised a total of $295,000!

Participants at the run/walk got a head start racking up their kilometers for the month-long initiative. Though it wasn’t a timed event, bragging rights were still up for grabs, with Megan Callaghan, National Branch Administrator Toronto, and Craig White, Portfolio Manager Senior Vice President Kelowna coming out on top. Demonstrating the versatility and creativity of the RJ 5K 4 Kids, Amanda Collinge, Senior Manager, Operations Performance, and Jessica Silva, Senior Human Resources Business Partner Montreal, led a crash course in Thriller dance moves. Paul Allison, Chairman of Drug Free Kids Canada, carried the Pill Fairy Wand as a reminder of the honour that awaits this year’s top fundraiser.

“I just want to say a really big thank you to Raymond James employees for all that you have done,” shares KC Laroque from Drug Free Kids Canada. “We are really proud to be an organization that you support.”

Drug Free Kids Canada believes in talking about drugs early and often, since 90% of people struggling with addiction began using substances in adolescence. By educating parents and kids, they help empower young people to make positive choices for their mental and physical wellbeing.

Prince Ralph Osei from Little Warriors also joined in and expressed his gratitude: “Thank you to everyone at Raymond James for your incredible support of the kids who come to Little Warriors.”

Little Warriors focuses on the awareness, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse, and advocates on behalf of and with child sexual abuse survivors. The Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch is a specialized, intensive, trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment centre focused on helping children and adolescents who have been sexually abused, as well as their families.

Each of these organizations does vital work to promote healthy, safe, and thriving communities, and Raymond James Ltd. is proud to be support them!

Please join us! Click here to donate.