There’s strength in numbers, but there’s also empathy, encouragement and shared passion for a cause.
When it comes to Steps for Life – Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy, which runs April 29, the empathy and encouragement are for those who’ve experienced a work-related death or injury. The shared passion is for the cause of prevention.
In a news release, Steps for Life said communities across Canada, including Sudbury, will “tap into that strength, raising awareness of health and safety and funds to support families affected by work-related fatality, life-altering injury, or occupational disease.”
In Sudbury, the spokesperson for Steps for Life is Briana Fram. Her brother Jordan died in an underground mining accident when he was buried by an uncontrolled release of muck several years ago.
"Being the spokesperson for the Sudbury Steps for Life Walk is a way for me to honour my brother’s life, and to share my family and friend’s collective experience of living our lives in the aftermath of tragedy,” Fram said in the news release. “My hope in sharing this story is to have others work safer and be there for others who have unfortunately shared similar tragedies.”
The Steps for Life event includes a five-kilometre walk, which serves as the premier fundraiser for Threads of Life, a national charity for families affected by workplace tragedy. Steps for Life Sudbury is in its 16th year.
Local volunteers, businesses and families have raised more than $155,000 to provide families with peer support, information, and training to help them share their stories.
“This day is to honour loved ones and raise awareness to shift how people view workplace safety,” Fram said. “Steps for Life brings people together who are all interested in a common goal - the absolute importance of safety at work."
Steps for Life Sudbury takes place on April 29 at Workplace Safety North, 235 Cedar St. Registration opens at 9 a.m., and the walk kicks off at approximately 10:30 a.m. Learn more at StepsForLife.ca.
