Hey everyone,

Thanks so much for stopping by my JustGiving page.

I wanted to share a bit about why I’m running this 10k and raising money for the Royal Ottawa.

On April 12th, 2023, I lost my dad, Matt, to cancer—and honestly, it turned my whole world upside down. He was my biggest supporter, my go-to person, and just always there. He drove me to every soccer practice, helped coach my teams, gave the best advice, and loved me through everything—even the teenage years when I was… not always the easiest to deal with (if you know, you know).

Losing him was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. I couldn’t really wrap my head around how someone who had always been there could suddenly just be… gone. And I had no idea how to keep going without him. I fell into a really dark place. I stopped going to school and work, barely got out of bed, drank too much, cried constantly, and honestly just couldn’t see a way forward.

Eventually, I got referred to a program at the Royal Ottawa for mental health treatment—and I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for that. The team there helped me pick up the pieces and start taking care of myself again. They pushed me in the best ways, helped me build healthy habits, and reminded me that there was a version of life out there that felt worth living. I’ve done more in this past year than I probably have in the last ten combined. And, if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t even be able to run 10 steps—never mind a 10k.

If you didn’t know my dad, here’s what you should know: above all else, he cared about people. He’d help anyone—friend or stranger—without thinking twice. He’d literally give you his last five dollars and the shirt off his back. After he passed, my grandpa actually started saying, “What would Matt do?” whenever he saw someone who needed a hand. Usually, that meant dropping everything to help—because that’s what my dad would’ve done.

So… that’s my “why.”

I’m running this race and raising donations for the Royal in my dad’s honour. Because he believed in helping people, and I want to keep that going. I spent my whole life wanting to be just like him, and losing him felt like losing my biggest role model before I was ready. But I’ve been trying to live in a way that would make him proud—by taking care of myself, and finding ways to take care of others too.

Some of the best compliments I get are when people say I remind them of him. This run is one way I hope to keep his spirit alive.

If you’re able to donate, I’d be so grateful. The Royal Ottawa helped save my life, and I’d love to pay that forward in any way I can.

Thank you for reading and for your support—it really means the world.

With love,

Ryann