Day of Champions kicks off the RunWalk4Patrick Family Fest 2012

Over 2,000 elementary students wrapped up the 6th annual Partici-Patrick program Friday at Thomson Park with the Day of Champions event.

Each student had signed on to the program with the goal to complete a 42.2K marathon over a 10-week period during their in-class 20 minutes of daily physical activity while learning about HIV and AIDS.

Partici-Patrick, run by the Patrick4Life Foundation, is a program designed to promote student awareness of HIV by linking physical activity and healthy choices to character development, resulting in greater self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment.

The Patrick4Life Foundation was developed in honour of Patrick Fortin, a brave young man who contracted HIV/ AIDS at age 7 through tainted blood and died in 2001 at the age of 23.

Patrick had one wish that his legacy of hope for zero AIDS would continue through youth and education.

Fortin's wish was to educate and raise awareness, remove the stigma that surrounded the disease he was living with, and to find a cure,

E. W. Norman parent Ron Horsman says he never envisioned his children learning about HIV/AIDS in such a positive manner and was blown away by his son’s commitment to the program.

Patrick's brother Richard says because the North Bay area is a caring one Patrick's story continues to reach out a decade after his death.