Our names are Stella and Shyla, and we are first-year Kinesiology students at the University of Toronto. Together, we founded *KPE Hot Steps for a Cause*, a walking initiative rooted in our shared passion for movement and health.

This year, we’re taking a course on exercise and health with Dr. Doug Richards, whose lectures have deeply influenced our understanding of physical activity as a cornerstone of well-being. He often emphasizes how regular movement can significantly reduce one’s hazard ratio—the risk of mortality and morbidity—highlighting that sedentary behavior can raise this ratio from 0.6 to nearly 1.0. These insights have shaped our belief that physical activity is not just a privilege—it’s a right.

Both of us come from competitive athletic backgrounds: Stella was an elite soccer player, and Shyla competed in ice hockey at a high level. Unfortunately, injuries forced us to step away from our sports—Stella with a torn ACL, and Shyla after multiple concussions. Despite these setbacks, physical activity remained central to our recovery. It helped us heal physically, but just as importantly, it supported our emotional and mental health.

Through *Hot Steps for a Cause*, our mission is to share the joy and transformative power of movement with youth—regardless of their health status. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to experience the benefits of physical activity, and we’re committed to creating inclusive, uplifting experiences that make that possible.

The concept of our club is to hold weekly walks around our beautiful city while incorporating social events and giving back to the community. For our first initiative we would love to collaborate with you to help bring this club to life!

Thank you for considering our initiative. We’re excited about the possibility of collaborating with SickKids to bring this vision to life.

Shyla & Stella