At LiveWell Health and Physiotherapy, we believe movement is powerful. It strengthens, heals, connects, and sometimes it uplifts an entire community.
That’s why we’re proud to announce that LiveWell is once again participating in the Kitchener Kids with Cancer Run & Walk, supporting the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO). After walking, running, and fundraising together in 2024, this event has become a yearly tradition for our team across Waterloo, Kitchener, Baden, and Driftwood.
We’re not just doing this as healthcare providers. We’re doing it as parents, neighbours, and friends, as people who care deeply about the families in our community who are navigating childhood cancer.
Why This Run Matters to Our Team and Our Region
The Kitchener Kids with Cancer Run & Walk is more than just a community event. It’s a vital fundraiser for children and families across Ontario who are facing the life-altering reality of pediatric cancer.
The money raised goes directly to POGO, which provides:
- Coordinated care programs to support children through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship
- Financial support for travel, accommodations, and expenses not covered by OHIP
- Educational and psychosocial programs for families
- Advocacy and research to improve long-term outcomes
For us at LiveWell, the mission behind this event fits perfectly with our commitment to holistic care. Whether you visit LiveWell Waterloo, LiveWell Driftwood, LiveWell Baden, or LiveWell Lancaster, our goal is the same: to help people move through life with strength, purpose, and compassion.
And in this case, to help them move for a cause that changes lives.
Back Again and Stronger Than Ever
Last year was our first time participating, and it left a lasting impression. The energy, the stories, the community, the families. It was powerful and humbling.
This year, we’re stepping up with even more momentum. Our goal is to build on what we started in 2024 and raise even more funds, awareness, and support in 2025.
Meet This Year’s Participants
Every step of this event is powered by people, and two of the first to step up for Team LiveWell in 2025 are Lyndsay Richards and Farnaz Rostami.
Both are back for a second year in a row, ready to push themselves beyond comfort zones and into something meaningful. This isn’t just a walk or a run for them. It’s a challenge they’ve taken on to grow stronger, give back, and lead by example.
Lyndsay, our operations manager, brings the same behind-the-scenes dedication she’s known for in the clinic to the race route. For her, this event is about showing that movement matters at every level: in the clinic, in the community, and within ourselves.
Farnaz brings her patient-centered passion for care to every training step. Focused, driven, and community-minded, she’s taking this opportunity to live out the values she supports every day.
Local Care, Local Impact
This event isn’t happening in a faraway place. It’s happening right here in Kitchener, with ripple effects across Waterloo, Baden, and beyond.
And so is our care. When you visit a LiveWell clinic, you’re not just booking a physiotherapy appointment or a massage. You’re becoming part of a community that invests in each other’s health and future.
Our clinics support local causes, hire local practitioners, and believe in keeping care close to home.
Whether you’ve seen us for in-home physiotherapy in Kitchener, chiropractic care in Waterloo, or pelvic physio in Baden, your support makes it possible for us to give back through events like this.
How You Can Get Involved
Want to help us make a difference? Here’s how to take part today:
- Spread the word: Share this blog, tag your friends, and follow us for updates
- Support the cause: Every donation helps a child and family feel a little less alone
- Show up on run day: Walk, run, cheer, volunteer. Be part of the energy
- Event: Kitchener Kids with Cancer Run & Walk 2025
- Fundraising Link: https://raceroster.com/events/2025/96413/kitchener-kids-with-cancer-2025/pledge/participant/38380201
Why Donations Matter and Where They Go
Every dollar raised through the Kitchener Kids with Cancer Run & Walk directly supports POGO, a lifeline for families facing childhood cancer.
When you donate, you’re helping fund:
- Travel and accommodation assistance so families don’t have to choose between paying bills and staying close to their child’s care
- Child life specialists and psychosocial support to help kids and siblings process treatment emotionally
- Survivorship planning and academic support so young survivors thrive long after treatment ends
- Research and care coordination across Ontario hospitals to ensure the best outcomes and shortest wait times
This isn’t just about funding research. It’s about helping real families today, right here in Kitchener, Waterloo, Baden, and Driftwood.
Donating is Easy and Powerful
Use our fundraising link to:
- Donate online in just a few clicks
- Dedicate your donation in honour of someone
- Share the campaign with friends, family, or coworkers
- Track our progress as we move toward our fundraising goal
No amount is too small. Even $10 covers snacks during long hospital stays or helps a parent stay one more night with their child.
Want to go further? Ask your workplace about donation matching or team sponsorship.
Why We Made This an Annual Tradition
For the LiveWell team, this event isn’t a one-time gesture. After participating for the first time in 2024, the Kitchener Kids with Cancer Run & Walk became something bigger than a single fundraiser.
It wasn’t just about walking or running. It was about showing up with purpose. It was about seeing our community come together for something profoundly human.
We met families who reminded us why we do this work. We saw parents walking with their children, some in memory of loved ones, others in celebration of survivorship. We saw community spirit that inspired us deeply. Returning in 2025 wasn’t a question. It was a must.
And so, a new LiveWell tradition was born. One that will continue every spring until there’s no longer a need to walk for childhood cancer.
Training Tips from the LiveWell Team
We’re in the business of movement, and we want you to enjoy this event without injury. Here are some tips from our experts across LiveWell Lancaster, Driftwood, Waterloo, and Baden to help you prep:
- Ease In Gradually
Start training with short walks or jogs 3 to 4 times a week. Let your body adapt slowly and avoid weekend warrior syndrome. - Incorporate Dynamic Warm-Ups
Before every session, try leg swings, hip openers, and shoulder rolls. Afterward, follow with calf, hamstring, and glute stretches. - Listen to Your Body
Pain is not part of progress. If something feels wrong, especially in your knees, hips, or back, book an appointment with a LiveWell physiotherapist. - Support Your Feet
Proper footwear is crucial. Our Baden and Driftwood teams can help with custom orthotics and gait assessments. - Fuel and Hydrate
Pack healthy snacks like bananas or protein bars, and drink water before, during, and after your walk or run.
Need pre-race prep or post-race recovery? LiveWell Driftwood’s massage therapists or LiveWell Waterloo’s chiropractors can help.
Wellness Support for Every Participant
Whether you’re running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, the body still takes on stress. Recovery matters.
LiveWell services that support your race day:
- Physiotherapy: Address pain, increase mobility, and recover safely
- Chiropractic Care: Keep your spine aligned and movement smooth
- Massage Therapy: Reduce inflammation and soreness post-event
- Acupuncture and cupping: Aid circulation and restore balance
- Hot stone massage: Calm the nervous system after exertion
- In-home physiotherapy: For those who need post-event care at home
Our approach is always personalized. Every LiveWell Kitchener, Waterloo, Baden, and Driftwood clinic adapts care based on your needs and activity level.
Spotlight on POGO: The Real Reason We Walk
The Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) has been helping children with cancer and their families for over 40 years. Their programs ensure that no family walks this journey alone and that care is accessible no matter your location or income.
Here’s just some of what they do:
- Provide financial help for families traveling long distances for care
- Fund child life programs to help kids understand their treatment
- Offer educational assistance so children can keep learning
- Coordinate research and clinical protocols across Ontario hospitals
- Maintain AfterCare clinics to monitor survivors well into adulthood
In short, POGO is the safety net and scaffolding for childhood cancer care in Ontario. When you give through this event, you are directly supporting those programs.
Family-Friendly Wellness Tips for Event Day
Getting ready to attend as a family? Here are a few ideas to help your crew feel good on race day:
- Stretch together as a family before walking and make it fun
- Use supportive strollers or carriers for little ones
- Pack sunscreen, snacks, and refillable water bottles
- Bring a change of shoes or cozy layers in case of weather shifts
- Visit your local clinic beforehand for a pre-event tune-up
Our LiveWell clinics are great resources for family wellness care. From massage therapy to pelvic physio, we’re here to keep everyone moving at every age and stage.
One Last Thing: Help Us Reach Our Goal
Donations fuel this mission. Your contribution, no matter the amount, helps a family stay together, feel supported, and access world-class care.
You can donate now through our official link: Donate here
Follow along with our journey and updates on social:
Instagram and Facebook:
@LiveWellBaden
@LiveWellDriftwood
@LiveWellWaterloo
@LiveWellLancaster
