When Emi Gamble sees her parents competing in marathons, she wants nothing more than to run by their side.

But the nine-year-old has physical barriers that mean she’s often excluded from such events.

“Most races are not designed to meet Emi’s special needs,” says her mother Jennifer Mooradian, a board member with Down Syndrome Caring Parents Niagara, a local parent support group and advocacy organization. “My daughter has Down syndrome, which results in visual physical characteristics including a short stature and limbs.”

This is one reason why Mooradian decided to co-organize Meridian Smiles Run, Walk, Roll for Inclusion.

Hosted at Brock University on Sunday, July 15, the inaugural event will include a 50-metre children’s fun run, which starts at 10 a.m., followed by a one-, three- or five-kilometre non-competitive run where all participants get a medal.

“Many activities are set up as a competition of same age peers, which is a model that alienates the majority of children and undermines their confidence,” Mooradian explains. “When I recently heard my daughter say she didn’t want to be active in something because she’s not so good at it, I needed to respond.”

As an Applied Health Sciences graduate student, Mooradian was already familiar with Brock’s Special Needs Activity Program (SNAP) and Children’s Movement Program.

“Brock has a strong reputation in the community for offering inclusive and adaptive physical activity programming, so this is a natural partnership for us,” she said. “I knew by working with the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and Student Life and Community Experience, we would be able to offer a non-competitive race that is both fun and inclusive for all.”

Also co-organizing the event is Blair Stayzer, founder of G-Mc’s Fitness Homies with Extra Chromies, a local not-for-profit organization and foundation that provides social health and wellness activities and events in a fun and exciting way for individuals with Down syndrome.

“Blair is very passionate and well-connected to the community, so we are very fortunate to have him supporting this event,” Mooradian said. “It was Blair who was successful at securing our primary sponsor Meridian Credit Union and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

In addition to the inclusion races there will be a Kids Fun Zone, which includes tents to picnic under, a jump and bounce, guided physical activities sponsored by SNAP and special guests including Brock Badgers mascot Boomer and Niagara IceDogs mascot Bones.

Registration is $25 for each participant and includes an event T-shirt, race medal and food.

Tickets are available at meridiansmiles.eventbrite.ca

Event schedule

9 a.m.: Registration opens at Isaac’s Bar and Grill in the Brock University Student-Alumni Centre

10 a.m.: 50-metre children’s fun run begins

10:15 a.m.: Meridian Smiles Run, Walk or Roll for Inclusion begins

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Food service and Kids Fun Zone

Noon: Race closing ceremonies at Isaac’s Bar and Grill

For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.