This year's Shake the Lake Charity Fun Run raised $111,000 for six local charities.
The majority of the funds, $70,000, were donated to the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation to support the critical care department at the new Fancsy Family Hospital.
The event is held in honour of Shawn King and Brian Modde who were killed in a boating accident in November 2024.
"It was really important for our committee to donate to an area where, had they survived their injuries, they would have required support from those programs," said Kaitlyn King, committee member.
The $70,000 donation is part of a $150,000 pledge from the committee to go toward the naming of one ICU room at the new hospital.
"This early pledge really acts as an inspiration to other community groups who are thinking about the future of our healthcare and ways in which that they can either support themselves or host an event that can really make a huge impact," said Cristina Naccarato, Chief Executive Officer of the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation.
The remaining funds from this year's event were split between the Tilbury Lions Club, the Community Support Centre foodbank, the Youth Wellness Hub, and the Soup Shack.
More than 350 people and 50 boats took part in this year's Shake the Lake event. During the event, boaters travelled between seven on-shore locations to collect poker chips and compete for prizes.
"Traditional poker runs are about fast boats and speed; that is not the purpose of this event. This is about having a fun, safe day on the water, boating around to different stops with your friends and family," said King.
Planning is already underway for next year's event to be held on July 10, 2027.
