sMILES for Amanda

“sMiles for Amanda” is a run that was initiated by the 2016 MD Class at UOttawa in memory of classmate Amanda Kelsall. Amanda was killed in a car accident during her second year of Medicine at UOttawa. The annual run, which began in May of 2014, gives MD students and faculty an opportunity to raise funds for various causes, in this way, growing seeds of faith, hope and love planted during Amanda’s life. This initiative inspired an annual extension of the run in Amanda’s home town (Horseshoe Valley) in 2016 as well as several other runs internationally. Thousands of dollars have been raised for various causes. These include the Trauma Unit at the Ottawa Hospital, Ebola Fight in West Africa, Medical Aid for Syrian Refugees, ALS Research, Mental Health (UOttawa Brain and Mind Research Institute), Indigenous Communities through True North Aid/Opioid Crisis, Teen Challenge, Nelson House, the Lighthouse (Orillia)