On Saturday, July 22, 2023, thirty-eight teams of paddle boarders and many other local business and community groups gathered together at Crescent Beach for Surrey Hospitals Foundation’s 4th annual charity event, Champion of the Crescent. The event consisted of a paddle board relay tournament, live entertainment, and a day of fun and food at the beach. Altogether, Champion of the Crescent raised a record $265,200 to support much-needed youth mental health programs at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
The funds come at an important time for healthcare services in Surrey and the surrounding Fraser Health region. Surrey Memorial Hospital itself is the regional centre for acute mental health services for children, youth and young adults within the entire Fraser Health Authority. Approximately 42% of BC’s children and youth live in the Fraser Health region—with 30% of those young people living in Surrey. Surrey Memorial Hospital treats more children and youth for mental health issues than any other hospital in BC.
“As many as 1 in 5 children and youth will experience some form of mental health problem in their adolescence,” said Paula Sandhu, Manager of Clinical Operations for Child, Youth and Young Adult Mental Health and Substance Use Services at Surrey Memorial Hospital. “Sadly, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death amongst young people in Canada.”
“We are grateful to the community for coming together this past weekend to stand up for youth mental health,” said Maria Faccio, Chief Development Officer for Surrey Hospitals Foundation. “All the funds raised at Champion of the Crescent will support the amazing services and treatments offered by our child and youth mental health staff at Surrey Memorial Hospital; helping them provide the best health care possible for the diversity of kids who live within the Fraser Health region.”
Proceeds from Champion of the Crescent will go towards funding music, art and recreational therapy programs at Surrey Memorial Hospital; which have proven to have success in helping children navigate their inner thoughts and feelings and in providing holistic approaches to wellness and healing.
Funds raised at the event will also go towards a new Child and Youth Mental Health Transition Team, the first of its kind in BC, which bridges the gap between hospital and community services. This transition team will enable healthcare workers to better care for children and youth with complex needs, and their families, at one of the most vital points in their healthcare journey.
Champion of the Crescent 2023 would not have been possible without the event’s sponsors and supporters:
- Presenting Sponsor – EllisDon
- Stage Sponsor – Flynn Group of Companies
- Course Sponsor – Surrey Firefighters’ Charitable Society
- Fun Zone Sponsor – Houle
- Picnic Sponsor – Safe Software
- Hydration Sponsor – Applewood Auto Group
- Signage Sponsor – Astrographics
- Media Sponsors – Global BC and Surrey Board of Trade
- In-kind Sponsors – Russell Brewing, Save-On-Foods and Starbucks
- Volunteer Supporter – Scotiabank
The event ended with two surprise on-the-spot donations, including one $10,000 gift from Berezan Management, and one $5,000 gift from Flynn Group of Companies.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much to our sponsors, our paddle board teams, and all their friends, family and guests, for standing up for youth mental health!
Check out some photos from the event (more to come!):
Thank you to our event sponsors and supporters:
