For a man who began with single axle truck, a bunch of shovels and a few men and an idea who became an employer of a strong, very loyal workforce, Miles for Memories seems a fitting tribute to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society.
Capital Paving founder David L. Stephens passed away in 2014 but his memory lives on as the company is once again organizing its Miles for Memories event, this time at scenic Guelph Lake on Sept. 19 to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s.
Construction Leadership Coach, Sue Edwards commented the 2012 event was extremely successful at increasing the public’s education about the disease while raising over $60,000 for the local Alzheimer Society.
She said Capital and its employees are dedicated to giving back to the community by taking an active leadership role in sponsoring, planning and organizing events that support a number of charitable causes.
For more than two decades the company has supported a number of organizations in the community such as the Wellington Catholic District School Board, Guelph General Hospital, Alzheimer Society and the Hespler Minor Hockey Association to name a few. They also organized events to help raise funds for community and environment initiatives such as “Farm to Fork”, Aberfoyle Fall Fair and the “Greenest School Contest”.
As she noted the Puslinch-based road building and aggregate company has served southwestern Ontario over the past 30 years, Edwards added the company’s philosophy revolves around quality and dedication in everything the company does from construction to communities to the environment.
“In Miles for Memories we’re really trying to create a family event and experience – not just a walk/run for charity,” she said.
“We want people to have an upbeat day, to create an experience people will want to come
back out to – where they’ve enjoyed themselves and felt like they’ve made a contribution.”
The intent is to create a positive atmosphere around a disease which carries a lot of heavy connotations and people tend not to talk a lot about it. Edwards said.
“We’re trying to create a feel-good day where the kids are out for grandparents and having fun.”
Capital Paving’s first Miles for Memories event in 2012 was a tremendous success with over $60,000 raised in the fight against Alzheimer’s and a significant increase in public awareness of this destructive disease and was the largest single donation in the Alzheimer Society’s (Guelph-Wellington Chapter) history.
Edwards said Capital is thrilled to be stepping back into this role.
“This will be our committed cause year after year. Capital has led such a variety of causes over its history. It has always been about giving back and doing things in different ways, bringing expertise to different causes – from environmental such as the Grand Valley Conservation for stream cleanups and helping to build parks.”
For years the approach had been to do something different each year – but something with a positive impact on the community, she said.
“Eventually the employees said to have the biggest impact on the community, what can we be doing year-over-year for a cause we can become associated with – so people know Capital is committed to this.”
“And it was the employees who really said back in 2011 for the 2012 event … ‘the cause is under your nose guys’ to the owners.”
At the time, the company founder was struggling with Alzheimer’s and staff wanted to recognize that and his personal impact on their lives, she said.
“… and so many families of employees were struggling with the very same disease.”
President Geoff Stephens had been uncomfortable about naming a cause which was so close to his family, Edwards said.
In his eulogy for David Stephens, Geoffrey Stephens (current Capital president) said, “Some of you know me as the president of Capital Paving and some of you even call me the boss. Yet I stand here today not wanting to wear any of those hats. I stand here today as a son who has lost his father.
“There are a lot of terrible diseases that many families must face. Our family has had to deal with Alzheimer’s. My Dad and my entire family have lived with Alzheimer’s for over 13 years. Yet this disease that has robbed us of so many things has also given us opportunities to unite and make our family stronger.
“When my Dad was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s he knew that things were going to change and his first concern was my mother. I know he took comfort that the success he had in business would mean financial security for (his wife) Gillian.”
However, Edwards said it was the employees who stated that was the exact reason it was the right choice – because it was impacting everyone.
While the 2012 event was great and there was an excellent turnout, Edwards anticipates the Guelph Lake venue will present even more an opportunities.
“We have our own island for the event, and one of the employees is in a really great band, a DJ, facepainting, bouncy castles and a dunk tank.”
Edwards added there will also be time for presentations to those in the community associated with the cause.
There will be some sombre moments, but the general intent is to get people feeling good about making contributions to the cause.
She added that Alzheimers Society also supports this initiative.
We have also been strongly involved in organizing “Coffee Break” at our head office to help raise funds for the Alzheimer Society. Through our employees and contractors, we raised the largest amount in our history in 2010 by donating a total of $11,540.
Miles for Memories registration of just $30 per individual or $95 for a team of four includes: admission to Guelph Lake and parking for the day, registration for 5k or 2k walk/run, warm-up activities led by fitness instructor, T-shirt, refreshments – drink and lunch snack and kids activities – bouncy castles, face painting, dunk your parents dunk tank.
There will be a DJ and live band (Gin Lane, a Capital employee, is a member.)
Website for the event and registration: http://www.miles4memories.ca
Facebook Group for active updates and News https://www.facebook.com/groups/Miles4Memories.ca/
Of course there’s Twitter too: @CapitalPaving
About the Alzheimer Society
The Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Wellington is a non-profit organization that was established in 1987.
On April 1, 2014, the Alzheimer Society of Guelph-Wellington amalgamated with the Alzheimer Society of Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo to form Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington.
Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington maintains the same mission to improve the quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, their families and those who provide care, through support, information, advocacy, education and promotion of research. They have offices in Guelph, Cambridge and Kitchener and are governed by a local board of directors.
