Heartfelt Play - Running for children's toys

Hello, my name is Colton Daly. When I was around the age of 10 I was diagnosed with a heart condition called arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. This disease caused me to spend much of my youth in and out of children's hospitals (the most frequent being CHEO in Ottawa). To be frank, I've never much enjoyed going to the doctor! When I was younger, being in a hospital or visiting the doctor had a lot of stress associated with it - often experiencing overwhelming anxiety l during some of my visits. However, when I think back on my time visiting the CHEO heart institute, there are several happy memories from my experiences that I still cherish to this day. I have always had an affinity for video games because they serve as a distraction from some of the negative circumstances related with growing up with a heart condition, and allowed me to socialize with my peers and create positive experiences! Back in those days, the Nintendo 64 and other retro videogames present in the CHEO heart institute during my childhood served as a source of joy for me.

This summer I plan to raise money towards updating and adding to the current video-game library at CHEO for the children there that may need a bit of fun brought to their days. My goal is to raise enough money to donate at least three Nintendo Switches and a few games in addition! I want to ensure that while going to hospital may be scary for most children, there is always some aspect to look forward to. Creating bright spots during these challenging experiences can make a world of difference for kids as I've come to experience/witness.

I pledge to run three races (half marathon, Spartan Race & 10km) over the course of this summer 2024 to raise funds for my cause and spread awareness to the difficulties many children may be facing. Even if you are unable to donate, your words of encouragement and sharing of my cause are incredibly appreciated!

Thank you for care, consideration, and support,

Colton Daly