March 17, 2025

St. Joe’s Robo-Runners Are Stepping Up for Patient Care at the Bay Race  

This year, funds raised through the 2025 Around the Bay Road Race are supporting robotic surgery innovation and care at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. But the robotic surgery team isn’t just the beneficiary of donations made to runners, they’re taking part in the race and raising funds, too. No one knows better the impact of robotic surgery than the people who work in the operating rooms at the Hospital.   

“Every day, we have the privilege of witnessing how surgical robotics is providing better outcomes for the patients we serve here at St. Joe’s,” says Tracina Pearce, the Clinical Manager of the Operating Rooms at the Hospital and Team Captain of the aptly named Robo-Runners. “We know that the funds we’re raising will help more patients to have access to this innovative service at the Hospital.” 

Tracina is a dedicated Bay Race advocate, having been a participant since she first started at St. Joe’s in 2019 (with the G.I. Janes team in 6 Surgical). So far, she’s recruited 17 teammates to join her crew of Robo-Runners including Operating Room nurses, administrative support, robotic surgery partners, friends and family. So far, they’re closing in on raising $1,000 as a team. 

“Participating in an event that brings the whole community out in support of improving access to care for our patients is so meaningful to us,” says Tracina. “There’s a ‘feel good’ aspect to getting involved in this race – it’s a local institution and directly impacts and benefits the work we do at St. Joe’s. The Bay Race brings our community together for a great cause.” 

To date, more than 5,000 robotic surgeries have been performed at St. Joe’s, helping patients 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.  

This is the 21^st year that St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation has been the official charity partner of the Around the Bay Road Race. Since that time, more than $5.5 million (net) has been raised to support patient care, research, mental health, robotic surgery and more at St. Joe’s. There is still time to send in your pledges for this year’s race! Click here to support Team Robo-Runners or go online to give to your favourite participant: Search for a fundraiser — Race Roster — Registration, Marketing, Fundraising