Partici-Patrick program returns for an 11th year

This year’s Partici-Patrick program is underway at all four local school boards.

A ceremony to mark the occasion was held on Monday at Ecole Publique Heritage.

Bob Sampson is Executive Director of Patrick 4 Life.

He says the event now in its 11th year focuses on two major areas including the education piece.

“There’s curriculum written for them, and that curriculum has been written by practicing teachers of all four school boards.  Then there’s the physical activity component,” he says.

Students run or walk a total of 22.5 km over six weeks

Meantime, Sampson says the program is evolving.

“11 years ago we were focusing just on HIV and AIDS and now we focus on mental health issues and giving students a sense of self worth and having an understanding and acceptance for people are different,” he says.

Partici-Patrick culminates with the Day of Champions on June 5th at the Omischl Sports Complex, where students will wrap up their journey.

The event is in honour of Patrick Fortin who contracted HIV through tainted blood when he was 7.  He passed away in 2001.