CDS Runners Raise $8,480 for Youth Mental Health
Kiyan Heybati ’18 and Magnus Krever ’18 are still soaring from the success of the CDS Runners last Saturday at the RBC Race for the Kids in Toronto. The impressive team they assembled consisted of 38 CDS students and faculty members who answered their call to action last spring to help raise awareness and funds in support of youth mental health.
Accompanied by original team members Michael Jones ’18, Tommy Shen ’18 and Kiyan’s younger brother Shayan Heybati ’22, and friends Nicolas Gesualdo ’18 and Kosta Tzanis ’18 - these students worked tirelessly over the summer months to raise funds for the third annual Race for the Kids.
On Saturday, their dream was realized when they crossed the finish line of the 5km, 7km or 15km run. While the actual race took less than 30 minutes for most of them, their four-month journey culminated in a fundraising total of $8,480 - six times their original goal of $1,400 - in support of the Family Navigation Project at Sunnybrook Hospital, an organization that offers help to families navigating the world of mental health for their children.
“While some of us are on the Cross-Country team, this was much more about mobilizing participation in supporting the youth in our community,” explained Kiyan. “It was an opportunity to work together to raise awareness and funds for a cause which affects one in five children, or as many as two million young people in Canada.”
The boys spent their summer seeking support and sponsorship from municipal and federal leaders, including Mayor Geoff Dawe of Aurora, MP Kyle Peterson for Newmarket-Aurora, and MP Majid Jowhari of Richmond Hill, who was so impressed with their efforts that he presented them with a Certificate of Recognition from the House of Commons last week.
Team members placed stories in local papers and on the radio, worked their social media channels, and had a full slate of fundraising events throughout the month of August, including Celebrity Server nights at local restaurants. Tomorrow evening, they are auctioning off a signed Tyler Bozak Toronto Maple Leafs Jersey at Wayne Gretzky’s restaurant in Toronto in the hopes of surpassing the $9,000 mark.
“We really can’t believe how far we’ve come,” reflects Magnus. “Crossing the finish line was emotional for all of us because we realized we had done something great for the community.”
“It doesn’t take much to change a community,” says Kiyan. “This was about one Grade 11 student pitching the idea and getting a team together to make it happen.”
The CDS Runners look forward to doing it all over again next year, possibly this time with third party support. Armed with what they learned this first go around, one can only imagine what they are capable of doing in year two. We wish them well!
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
