Central Taxi sponsors Niagara’s first Hope in Motion
In the world of professional sports, victories can be measured by a 100th of a second or a fraction of an inch at the finish line.
On the track at Hotel Dieu Shaver Foundation’s Hope in Motion, success is defined by each individual participant, based upon their own goals for progress in recovery. It’s like the Olympics for personal achievement, with a lot of gold medal performances and personal bests.
“We purposefully designed the event so that every participant could set their own goal, depending upon where they are in their own recovery, and work to accomplish it with the support of family, loved ones and team members from Hotel Dieu Shaver,” explains Hope in Motion Development Officer Courtney McLoughlin. “In this way, we are different from other events that are set up as a 10k or a Marathon.”
Hope in Motion is a mobility-inclusive event in which participants set their own challenge. They can walk or wheel their way around the track at Canada Games Park, at their own pace and their own goal. Walkers may or may not use a cane; they may or may not use a walker. The details of the activity matter less than the fact that the individual is in motion – Hope in Motion.
“One of our participants, who had been in a wheelchair, set an ambitious goal to walk 100 meters. His whole family, HDS Staff, and volunteers cheered him on! It’s hard to describe the emotion and the excitement when he reached his goal!. It was unlike anything I’d ever witnessed!”
The event brings together the Hotel Dieu Shaver (HDS) family of healthcare staff, patients, program graduates and loved ones, along with our caring community to raise funds for patient equipment needs at HDS, Niagara’s only rehabilitation and complex care hospital.
Niagara’s Central Taxi came on board as a sponsor immediately when asked; as a provider of Accessible transportation as well as standard Taxi service, the Central Taxi team understands well the importance of support in recovery and mobility. In addition, family members of Central Taxi employee have been received rehabilitation treatment at Hotel Dieu Shaver so for some, the connection in personal.
“It’s hard to get a sponsor for the very first year,” says McLoughlin. “We are so grateful to Central Taxi.” Designed with a fundraising goal of $20,000, the event had already passed that amount when McLauglin spoke to Taxi News. The final figure will be tallied in the days ahead, and plans are already underway for the second Hope in Motion in 2024.
Central Taxi is already back on board as sponsor of Hope in Motion 2.
