August 18, 2025
Remembering Chris Owens: 4th Edition of A Run for Chris raises funds for youth mental health and addictions care at St. Joe’s
Nearly 400 A Run for Chris participants gathered this past Sunday at Joe Sams Leisure Park in Waterdown to walk/run and raise funds in memory of 26-year-old Chris Owens, who lost his battle with mental health and addiction in 2021. This year’s event raised $35,000 in support of mental health and substance use care at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s Youth Wellness Centre (YWC) bringing the total tally donated over the years to more than $120,000.
Located in Hamilton’s downtown core, the YWC provides a safe(r) space where youth can access culturally sensitive, gender-affirming care for their mental health or substance use concerns. A Run for Chris has been largely organized by Chris’ parents Sandy and Michael Owens, his sister Michelle and his best friend, Megan Roti, to honour his memory and raise funds to help others who may be living with mental health or substance use concerns.
“Not only has our event continued to keep Chris’ memory very much alive, but it also supports access to youth mental health resources in our own community,” said Megan. “Supporting the Youth Wellness Centre is near and dear to our hearts because when we toured the space, there’s a sense of community and belonging that Chris would’ve loved being a part of. It’s about treatment and about healing from the inside out.”
A team of clients and staff from the Youth Wellness Centre took part in A Run for Chris, too. “Navigating
mental wellness during a vulnerable time in a young person’s life can be tricky. There’s a fierce desire for privacy and independence, and yet also a need for connection and support. At the YWC, we try to bridge those gaps for youth by offering care and ways that youth can engage in activities like running, writing, or painting to build friendships and understanding, too. Events like A Run for Chris are so critical to ensuring the Youth Wellness Centre has the resources in needs to continue offering programming that keeps youth engaged in their mental health journey,” says Taylor Hatchard, Clinical and Research Lead at St. Joe’s Youth Wellness Centre.
St. Joe’s is the second largest provider of mental health and addictions services in the province. Each year, the Hospital will see more than 200,000 outpatient visits to their mental health and addictions clinics and cares for over 30,000 new patients. While government funding provides essential operational funding for services, the funds raised from this event help fill the gaps as the demand for mental health and addictions care continues to rise in the Hamilton region.
About Chris Owens
Chris Owens was a runner from the time he knew how to walk. Through every phase of his life no matter how challenging, dark, or painful, he would pick himself up, get outside and run as far as he could. On August 20, 2021, Chris passed away at the age of 26 after a courageous battle with mental health and substance use. In the four years since, his spirit has continued to inspire. The commitment to his fight, his vulnerability with others, and the obstacles he overcame in coming out about his sexuality have left a lasting impact on the community. Chris’ memory lives on through A Run for Chris, and through the lives touched by the work this event supports.
About St. Joe’s Youth Wellness Centre
The Youth Wellness Centre helps support young people aged 17-25 by providing access to confidential and expert care for mental health and substance use concerns, no matter what barriers they may be facing. Clinical care is under four main streams: early intervention, transition support, mobile mental health clinic, and a YouThrive program for Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth. For more information on the YWC and its services, visit www.reachouthamilton.ca.