The clouds cleared just in time for the annual Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone in Ottawa's Vincent Massey Park Sunday. More than 1,000 walkers raised a record $215,000.
With more than 50 communities across the country holding walks in support of the cause, Ottawa raised the third largest amount in Canada. A total of $1.4-million was raised across Ontario.
The five-kilometre walk was to provide funding to the Kids Help Phone. More than one million Canadian kids between the ages of five and 20 are helped by the well-known hotline each year.
"Kids Help Phone is an anonymous place where you can go to talk about your problems. You don't have to use your name, no one is going tell anyone or gossip about you," said Gillian Langland, Kids Help Phone student ambassador.
She said questions range from those about bullying to suicide and sexuality. It takes more than 10,000 volunteers to answer the calls for help.
"A lot of the time, people don't want to talk about these problems. (Kids Help Phone) is an easy place for you to let go of all your feelings and problems, really," she said.
