Jordan Choo, 33, placed first in the 2022 Strides for Mackenzie Health – a 5km run/walk that draws more than 1,000 community members from across York Region and beyond.
“Hearing about all of the hardships the Mackenzie Health team had to go through during the peak of COVID-19, I wanted to participate and donate as a thank you for all the hard work,” says Jordan.
As a long-time resident of Maple, Ontario, Jordan is no stranger to the important work taking place at Mackenzie Health. And while he enjoyed running the event’s unique route through Canada’s Wonderland, giving back to a cause that directly impacts the community was the greatest part for him.
From the group warm-up to the course and the post-run fun-zone, he defines the event as having a strong sense of community. Since the run took place, Jordan has created relationships with other Strides participants and describes the Mackenzie Health community as an awesome group to be surrounded by.
“My wife and I have been to Mackenzie Health a couple of times, for what ended up being minor issues, thankfully. Every time we've gone, the staff was extremely helpful, friendly and really understanding. It made our visit much more manageable and gave us confidence knowing that we'd be properly taken care of,” he says.
For Jordan, knowing that his friends and family have a hospital close to home that can be relied on for consistent, timely and experienced care is crucial.
“If there is any way that I can help make sure that it stays that way, I want to do so,” he says. “To the patients, know that you're in the care of experts that actually care; to the community, keep on supporting the Mackenzie Health team; to the Mackenzie Health team, you are all amazing, keep up the amazing work that you're doing, and you are truly appreciated.”