Kaitlyn's Legacy-Lady Bug Run
The Robb Nash Project was her Passion
In 2020, Kaitlyn and I travelled together to Lloydminster just a couple of weeks before a Robb Nash Project show was being held in Medicine Hat. She had a constant chatter all the way there about the upcoming show and who she recruited to volunteer and how excited she was to go. She truly had a passion in her heart for this cause.
She never made it to that Medicine Hat show. Kaitlyn passed away the next Sunday at the age of 19 due to a pulmonary embolism. It was a shock to us all.
I really cannot say that I know a lot about The Robb Nash Project, but Kaitlyn must have gone to one of the shows through school and fell in love with him and his message. She believed with her whole heart that Robb Nash’s message and how he delivered it was what every child/parent needed to hear. Kaitlyn convinced her friend that they should volunteer at the events and so the whirlwind of going to the shows started. The two girls travelled all over Alberta, volunteering every chance they had.
At Kaitie's funeral, it was decided that her friends Courtney and Warren (new recruit), and his mom, Jayena, would still go to the show in Medicine Hat on March 12th in Kaitie’s honour. After the event Jayena made comments that it was amazing and if we ever got a chance to see or participate in one of the events, it was a must. Something the kids knew all along.
Kaitlyn had known this and her enthusiasm was infectious. It fills me with pride thinking of her.
We now do an annual fun run/walk in Red Deer with family and friends and it seems to be getting bigger each year. This year, about 50 people came out and we raised $1,225. It’s held on June 20, near Kaitie’s birthday to help raise funds to support the much deserving project that Kaitlyn loved.
It’s called Kaitlyn's Lady Bug Run because when Kaitie was little, she was fondly nicknamed “bug”. At a playground she had persistently tried to convince her uncle to stop talking with her mom and dad and just play, so he called her a bug. Kaitie said “I’m a ladybug"; and Uncle Scott said "no, you are Kaitie Bug". But to all who knew her, a lady bug is synonymous with Kaitie and so the run was named Kaitlyn's Lady Bug Run.
I hope the love that Kaitlyn, “our little Lady Bug”, felt in her heart is spread around so no one feels alone.
-Myrna Lemay
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The Medicine Hat show on March 12, 2020 was the last one we held before the world shut down due to the pandemic. The Robb Nash Project is eternally grateful to Kaitlyn for her volunteer efforts and for recruiting additional volunteers to help out.
A Message from Robb
Just like Kaitlyn didn’t stop with her own breakthrough and started volunteering to help others….she would be so proud her friends came to that show and have continued telling her story. Tragedy can tear people apart, but it also can bring people together. Thanks for coming together in her honour.
And thank you from me and the Project for the walk and helping us get our message into more schools across Canada.”
-Robb Nash
Kaitlyn's Legacy
“Over the years of touring we have met a lot of amazing people and Kaitlyn was unforgettable. She really ran with our message of ‘finding something you believe in’ and helping others find their passion.
We were lucky enough that Kaitlyn chose to join our cause….our team…our family. I was heartbroken when I met Courtney and their new crew in Medicine Hat without her there.
(As told by her grandmother, Myrna)
Smokin' Summer Charity
BBQ Rib Off
In Support of The Robb Nash Project
On August 27th, Robb Nash participated as a celebrity judge in a rib tasting competition in Marchand, Manitoba. Organizers held the event as a way to come together and demonstrate their support for young people following a youth tragedy that occurred there in the spring, shaking their close-knit community.
“This young person was engaged in everything and volunteered to help everyone,” says Laurie Ann Hamm. “No one would have guessed they were struggling. It was a huge wake up call that our youth are being left behind.”
Smokin Summer
Event organizers, Laurie Anne Hamm and Angela Harel (otherwise known as the Hamm sisters), felt the tragedy deeply, saying they were shocked to hear the news about the young person who had always been such an integral and positive influence in their community. They felt the need to shine a light for young people and let them know that the adults in their community are there to support their mental health and well being.
Powered by their will to make a tangible difference in the lives of young people and the desire to help the community heal, the Hamm sisters decided that a summer charity BBQ in support of The Robb Nash Project was needed. They rolled up their sleeves and got busy collecting in kind donations and planning the activities that included the rib tasting competition dinner, an auction, a slick pole climbing cash grab, and a charity jail that only a donation could get you out of. There was also a lemonade stand, music, games and other grass roots shenanigans.
Ten teams participated in the Rib Off and about 150 people showed up to demonstrate their support and have some fun throughout the course of the day.
"We shared a lot of laughs, a lot of tears, and they raised over $5,250 for us to get our curriculum into schools..," Robb Nash said during an interview with Steinbach Online at the event. "I'm just so moved to be here with the people of Marchand."
“It was more fun than it was work and was so worth it,” says Angela Harel adding that everything was donated. All of the surrounding businesses were receptive to the idea and were happy to support the fundraiser with free products from meat, salads and beans to the event space and auction prizes.
“I work for HyLife and when I told them what my sister and I were planning and why, they were more than happy to provide the ribs for the BBQ competition, as were all the other businesses we approached for support,” says Angela.
Angela and Laurie Anne said they received great feedback from the event and are definitely planning it again next year. Based on the interest, they believe they’ll have 30 teams participating and a couple hundred attendees in August 2023.
“The highlight was that Robb was there. He’s down to earth and a lot of fun. He even donated a guitar for the auction and it got a lot of bids! It was a real treat to have him at the event,” says Angela. “We’re just so happy to support The Robb Nash Project and to have young people benefit from the new curriculum. We never want to see another youth tragedy like the one that occurred this spring. Our kids mean everything to us.”
Angela, Laurie Anne and The Robb Nash Project would like to thank all the participants and attendees, the Marchand Inn, HyLife Foods, Country Meat and Deli, Steinbach Overhead Doors, SteinbachOnline.com, and the many businesses and individuals that generously donated items and time.
If you’d like to host a fundraiser in support of The Robb Nash Project, contact Kim Mardero or click here to set up your fundraiser and start collecting online donations today. How about an online birthday fundraiser? Simply click the Fundraise option at the top of the page as seen here.
