April 2, 2025

Rain or Shine, Thank You for Running the Around the Bay Road Race! 

On Sunday, thousands of runners and walkers took to the streets of downtown Hamilton for the 131^st Around the Bay Road Race, raising funds in support of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. 

Despite chilly temperatures and freezing rain, Bay Race participants were in great spirits and helped make this another exciting year for the iconic Hamilton race as they made their way to the new finish line in front of another historic Hamilton location, Liuna Station. To find out the results of the 5K, 10K, 15K and 30K events, including the top 3 male and female finishers, head over to CHIPTIME: Results – Around the Bay Road Race 2025. 

Among the sea of thousands of racing bibs and running shoes were more than 30 corporate and hospital fundraising teams and 175 St. Joe’s staff decked out in white Team St. Joe’s technical running shirts generously sponsored by HMECU.  

Some St. Joe’s staff chose to participate in the Bay Race in a different capacity, volunteering for the medical team at the finish line helping to treat strains and sprains, dehydration and hypothermia – conditions common for runners to experience, particularly on a cold March day.  

Several pillars of the Hamilton community and local businesses synonymous with the city took part in Sunday’s race, including contingents from ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Stelco, LiUNA, RBC, Iron Workers Local 736, law firm Scarfone Hawkins, architectural firm mcCallumSather and more. Community Champions Scott Galbraith, District Vice-President, TD Bank Group and captain of Team TD, and Bianca Bruzzese Partner, Private Equity, KPMG and captain of Team KPMG both took part in the 5K race and worked together to raise more than $52,000 for St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation.  

In total, more than $400,000 in pledges and donations was raised by participants and supporters of the Bay Race! LiUNA Lending a Hand held strong to their position of top corporate fundraising team in the race, raising more than $142,000 thanks to the leadership of International Vice-President and Regional Manager of Central and Eastern Canada, Joseph S. Mancinelli. From the Hospital, it was Dr. Deborah Cook and France Clarke heading up the 3 Wishes team that topped the list of St. Joe’s fundraising teams, raising over $28,000.  

Funds raised will largely support the internationally renowned robotic surgery program at St. Joe’s, helping to ensure that every patient who may benefit from robotic surgery has access to it at the Hospital. From hip and knee replacements to life-saving cancer surgeries, robotic technology in the hands of our surgeons is helping patients to heal faster and go home sooner. But seven of the 10 types of robotic surgery performed at St. Joe’s, including hip and knee replacements and surgeries for cancers of the head, neck, lung, bladder and more, remain unfunded by the province and are only made possible through the support of donors and fundraising events like the Around the Bay Road Race. 

“We feel very fortunate to be the beneficiary of this incredible event. It brings our community together in support of a healthier future for all of us,” says Sera Filice, a 5K participant for the 19^th year in a row, and the President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation.  

Our heartfelt thanks go out to every participant, supporter, donor and volunteer who played a role in making Hamilton’s race supporting Hamilton’s Hospital such a success. And a very special nod to our top 3 corporate teams and top 3 St. Joe’s fundraising teams: 

Corporate Fundraising Teams

LiUNA Lending a Hand – $142,386 

Team TD – $36,390 

Board of Governors – $23,884 

St. Joe’s Fundraising Teams

St. Joe’s 3 Wishes – $29,016 

Team Diagnostic Imaging – $11,304 

Team St. Joe’s – $10,828