The Honda Indy Toronto Walk, Run and Wheelathon

Sam Schmidt starting the 2.8 klm walk

Thanks to everyone involved!!!!!!! 

Thursday July 9^th, was a huge success with well over 400 runners, walkers and wheelers joining us in our inaugural WALK, RUN and WHEELATHON presented by the Toronto Sun. The excitement of the participants was over the top and we established that this will be a big part of the Indy next year. We raised $12,000.00 and brought together different alliances, who are attacking the road racing issue and working hard to find a cure for paralysis and spinal cord injuries.  The two causes that benefited by the event were the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation and Canadian Spinal Reasearch Organization. They have formed an alliance to help find a cure for spinal cord injuries in North America. The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation had sponsored the event and were elated with the response from the entire Indy family. The Andretti Green Racing Team, who is owner of the Honda Indy Toronto event, graciously supplied the track for the event and were tremendous supporters of the overall cause.

 Sam Schmidt, of Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation along with Barry Munro, President of the Canadian Spinal Research Organization, were both very impressed by the star studded start line!

Michael Andretti (from Andretti Green Racing), along with several drivers, NHL Alumni members , and Toronto Argonauts started the runners from the Running Room (organizers of the Run) and the participants who signed up online on their 2.8 kilometre trek around the track. Well over 22 wheel chair participants toughed out the beautiful weather to cross the finish line and receive a tremendous ovation from the crowd and medals from the Hooter Girls. To start the festivities off on the track Adriano Belli, of the Toronto Argonauts, sang the Canadian National Anthem and then the entire crowd, led by Michael Andretti and Sam Schmidt sang the American National Anthem. Michael Andretti then asked the runners, walkers and wheelers to start their engines and off they went. The first runner finished the track in approximately 8 minutes and was impressed on the overall look and feeling of running on a race track. The last participant, Kevin Mills, who wheeled around the Honda Indy track in 1 hour and 35 minutes, made it all worthwhile. His story will inspire everyone who has a catastrophic injury and helped make all the hard work to organize the event seem easy. The after party held in the Heritage Hall of the CNE featured the band EZ Street, the Toronto Maple Leaf Bus, DR. Pepper Drink Team, the Hooter Girls, a silent auction and several information booths. The coalition of booths included MADD, Young Drivers, the Toronto Rehab Foundation, Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation, March of Dimes, and CSRO/ASRO. Nazem Kadri and Jesse Blacker, the first and second round draft picks of the Toronto Maple Leafs, were on hand to sign autographs and take pictures for all the participants. 

If you would like a more specific report on the event, Shoot For A Cure Moto-sport or Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation please contact me at anytime [e-mail] or 416-828-2929, Kerry Goulet.