Help Adam raise money

I’m excited to share that I’m running the Sporting Life 10K again this year to raise money for Campfire Circle (formerly Camp Ooch). This incredible camp is dedicated to kids with cancer, giving them a place where they can just be kids—laughing, playing, and making unforgettable memories.

For the past 17 summers, I’ve volunteered at camp, and I can tell you firsthand—it’s pure magic. The joy on these kids' faces, despite the battles they’re fighting, is something truly special. It’s the happiest place I’ve ever been. This summer, I’ll be back again, teaching kids to swim and helping them create moments of joy that they’ll carry with them forever.

Why Campfire Circle Matters
Camp is completely free for families, funded entirely by donations, and costs over $3,500 per camper for a week. Throughout most of the year, these kids are surrounded by doctors, hospitals, and medical treatments. Many miss out on school, friendships, and the simple joy of just being a kid. Campfire Circle gives them that joy back.

What makes this camp even more remarkable is that it’s the only camp in Canada with full intravenous oncology on-site. Even the sickest kids can experience the magic of Muskoka, safely cared for by an incredible team of volunteer doctors and nurses.

New this year - Camp is also starting to help kids with other serious illnesses - heart disease, blood disorders, solid organ transplants and organ failure.

Why This Hits Close to Home
For me, this cause is deeply personal. My niece, Emily, was diagnosed with cancer at just four years old. Cancer didn’t just take a toll on her physically—it changed everything about how she experienced the world. The treatments were grueling, and the fear and uncertainty left her deeply withdrawn. She developed Selective Mutism Disorder, which meant she stopped speaking almost entirely.

For nearly two years, Emily barely spoke a word to new adults. She wouldn’t talk to doctors, nurses, or even some kids. In any group setting, she would cling to her mother’s leg, lowering her face to avoid interaction. The vibrant, chatty little girl we knew seemed lost, hidden behind a wall that none of us knew how to break through.

But Camp Ooch helped to change everything. It started with a single camp staff member at SickKids, someone who made Emily feel safe enough to whisper again. From there, the transformation was slow, but steady.

When she finally made it to camp, something changed. For the first time in years, she wasn’t "the kid with cancer"—she was just Emily. Surrounded by other kids who truly understood what she had been through, she slowly began to let her guard down. At first, it was small things—a quiet giggle, a whispered response—but little by little, she started laughing, playing, and speaking again.

One of the most powerful moments came at a camp family event. My sister, so used to feeling Emily clinging to her leg, looked down—but Emily wasn’t there. Instead, she was sitting with a group of friends, smiling, singing along, completely immersed in the joy of camp. It was the first time she had let go, both physically and emotionally.

From that moment on, camp became a place where Emily could grow, heal, and rediscover herself. Each summer, she returned more confident, more independent, and more like the bright, joyful child she was always meant to be.

Today, Emily is a thriving camper. She sings at campfires, tells jokes on stage, and joins in every activity with confidence. Camp Ooch gave her more than just fun—it gave her a voice, a sense of belonging, and a space where she didn’t have to be "the kid with cancer."

Last summer, she returned as a senior camper, and we saw something incredible: a girl who once couldn’t bring herself to speak in a room full of people was now leading games, making new friends, and radiating confidence. The impact of camp doesn’t end when the week is over—it stays with these kids, shaping who they become.