When Toronto walks, the world changes.
On May 30, downtown Toronto came alive with a celebration of community, compassion and collective impact. For the second year in a row, thousands of supporters filled the streets for We Walk UHNITED presented by Rogers in support of University Health Network (UHN), Canada’s #1 hospital.
In a powerful show of community support, more than 4,000 participants came together to raise over $1 million for UHN’s most urgent needs!
A city walks UHNITED
The energy of the day was unmistakable from the moment participants began to arrive.
Building on the success of its 2025 debut, this year’s walk saw the site once again filled with donors, patients, families, TeamUHN members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters, coming together for a city-wide celebration of community, fundraising and world-class health care.
Under clear skies and warm temperatures, DJ Lissa Monet kicked off the morning with music that got the crowd moving. In front of a sea of vibrant yellow shirts, UHN Foundation CEO Julie Quenneville and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow took the stage alongside emcees Shem Parkinson of KiSS 92.5 and Eva Fragiskatos of 680 NewsRadio Toronto, officially opening the event.
Special guests also stopped to chat with KiSS 92.5’s Maurie Sherman, including advocate and We Walk UHNITED ambassador Spencer West, UHN Foundation ambassador Sangita Patel, and star of Ginny and Georgia Chelsea Clark.
The 5km and 2km accessible route took participants from Toronto General Hospital to Toronto Western Hospital, with a pit stop at the Michener Institute, showcasing the reach and impact of UHN across the city. Along the way, walkers’ spirits were lifted by cheering volunteers, live music from Korean drumming ensemble Toronto Hanbeat Nanta and the East York Ismaili Marching Band, and of course, the smiling face of We Walk mascot Pacey.
Powered by more than 350 dedicated volunteers, the event delivered a seamless, welcoming and high-spirited experience from start to finish.
Stories that bring people together
At the heart of We Walk UHNITED are the patients who remind participants why they walk.
One of the day’s most moving moments came when UHN patient Rita Spiteri shared her experience and reflected on the care she received at UHN.
Her story brought a deeply personal perspective to the event, as she shared her story of being diagnosed at UHN with a rare heart condition, to other members of her family later being diagnosed with the same condition, to ultimately undergoing a heart transplant. It also underscored the life-changing impact supporters make possible through their fundraising efforts. Rita is now walking for a second year alongside her family and serves as an ambassador for UHN, continuing to show her support for the team that saved her life.
Throughout the morning, countless personal moments unfolded across the event grounds and route as patients walked side by side with care teams, families walked in honour of loved ones and TeamUHN members celebrated alongside the community they serve every day. Throughout the crowd, signs, flags and of course, bright yellow foam fingers highlighted the many lives touched by UHN.
A celebration for the city
Following the walk, the celebration continued in true UHN style with a party featuring music, entertainment, food and family-friendly activities.
Canadian music icon Kardinal Offishall returned to the We Walk UHNITED stage this year as the event’s DJ extraordinaire, keeping the vibes high as walkers crossed the finish line and gathered back at the celebration site for food, refreshments and activities for the whole family.
The festivities wrapped up with a high-energy performance from beloved Toronto band Dwayne Gretzky, transforming the event into a downtown block party that had participants dancing, singing and embodying the spirit of We Walk UHNITED!
Powered by community
As presenting sponsor, Rogers once again played a central role in bringing We Walk UHNITED to life, demonstrating their continued commitment to supporting health care and the communities UHN serves. More than 80 members of Team Rogers participated in the event, showing up in full force and helping create a strong on-site presence.
Their support, alongside the generosity of sponsors, donors, volunteers and participants, helped create an event that continues to grow in both scale and impact.
“Seeing thousands of people show up to support life-changing care, research and education at Canada’s #1 hospital was incredibly moving and is a true testament to the power of community,” said Julie Quenneville, CEO of UHN Foundation. “Every step taken today helps us continue pushing the boundaries of medicine and delivering hope to patients and families across Canada and beyond, and is a reminder that when we work together, we are changing the future of healthcare.”
The impact continues
Funds raised through We Walk UHNITED help support patient care, research and innovation across UHN’s many sites and programs, helping ensure patients continue to receive world-class care right at home.
Even if you missed this year’s walk, you can still contribute! Fundraising remains open until June 30th at WeWalkUHNITED.ca. And stay tuned for details about We Walk UHNITED 2027!
