Andrew Blakey holding up the OCAA trophy

Posted: Oct 08, 2021

OCAA champion Andrew Blakey giving back to the community

ETOBICOKE - OCAA champion and Humber volleyball alumnus Andrew Blakey had an incredible athletic career and now he is looking to give back to the community. Blakey knows the positive impact sport can have on children and he wants to make sure every kid has the opportunity to play, despite their financial situation.

On Saturday, November 6, Blakey will be running 60 kilometres from Toronto to Barrie in order to raise money for a non-profit called KidSport Canada. KidSport is a charity that helps children who are unable to afford to participate in sport due to financial constraints by helping with equipment and registration costs.

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"I believe that every child should have the opportunity to access and participate in sports," Blakey said when asked why he chose KidSport. "The relationships, bonds, and lessons learned from sport is something that is hard to replicate and I believe that no child should have to miss the opportunities, memories, and lessons learned from sport due to financial hardship."

So, on the morning of November 6, he will make the 60-kilometre journey, which he expects will take between seven and nine hours, hoping to raise $5,000 in donations. A typical marathon would cover approximately 42 kilometres and Blakey will be doing approximately one and a half marathons during his run to support these kids in need.

The lessons and challenges he experienced playing sports at a young age, as well as at Humber, have helped him to succeed in many of the other areas in his life. The goal with this run is to help young children continue their development as both people and athletes by allowing them access to the resources they need to continue playing organized sports.

If you want to learn more about this initiative or to help him reach his goal by donating, you can donate directly through Go Fund Me at https://www.gofundme.com/f/9ndw2-ultramarathon-for-kidsport-canada.