Sach In Motion (Mar 10, 2026)

Sachin Latti Returns to Share Impact of His Run Across Canada

Last year our club had the pleasure of supporting Sachin Latti, who set out on an ambitious mission to run across Canada to raise awareness and funds for mental health. This week, Sachin returned to share what happened after that first conversation with Sunrise Rotary—and how our early support helped launch something much bigger.

Sachin reminded us that our club was one of the very first groups to believe in the project. Our initial $10,000 contribution helped kick-start the campaign and leverage additional support, ultimately raising more than $216,000 in just 80 days. Those funds have gone directly toward supporting people facing mental health challenges, including veterans, first responders dealing with PTSD, youth programs, and initiatives addressing addiction and men’s mental health.

The run itself evolved quickly. The original plan was to run 100 km per day across the country, but Sachin and his team soon realized that people were stopping them along the way—wanting to talk. Rather than rushing past communities, they pivoted to running shorter distances and spending more time connecting with people. By the end of the journey, they had visited 55 cities and held more than 5,000 personal conversations about mental health.

Sachin shared several powerful stories from the road. In one memorable moment in Saskatoon, a woman who had once struggled with addiction and homelessness reunited with the police officer who had arrested her years earlier—an arrest she later credited with saving her life. That moment gave the officer, who had been struggling with the emotional toll of policing, a rare reminder of the positive impact his work had made.

Another story involved a young man Sachin had met at an addiction treatment centre years earlier. Inspired by their conversation, the man stayed sober and eventually joined Sachin for parts of the cross-Canada run, helping the team connect with communities along the way.

Again and again, Sachin found that purpose and connection were key themes—especially among young men struggling with direction and mental health. Simply giving someone the opportunity to contribute, be part of a team, or work toward a goal often sparked meaningful change.

The run also gained significant national attention, with coverage on CBC News and CP24, reaching millions of Canadians. In 2025, Ernie Klassen, Member of Parliament, formally recognized Sachin in the House of Commons as the first South Asian to run across Canada—a recognition that is now part of Canada’s permanent parliamentary record. Sunrise Rotary can proudly say we played a small role in helping that historic moment happen.

Looking ahead, Sachin is expanding the mission through the Sachin in Motion Foundation, which will focus on three key areas:

Awareness: continuing to share stories through media, podcasts, and a forthcoming documentary of the run.
Impact Grants: supporting grassroots mental health initiatives across Canada and helping them scale their impact.
Men’s Programs: developing guided groups and a six-week program aimed at helping men build purpose, resilience, and community.

Sachin closed by thanking Sunrise Rotary once again for believing in the idea early on. What started with a single presentation to our club has grown into a national movement that continues to touch lives across the country.

It was inspiring to hear how one bold idea—combined with community support—can create thousands of meaningful conversations and real change.

To watch the video or learn more follow this link. Sach In Motion - Canada's Longest Run for Mental Health - Raising $1M

Bobby
Bobby returned from a busy few days in Toronto, where he attended a restaurant and hospitality trade show and made some valuable industry connections. He also squeezed in quality time with his daughter downtown. The trip home came with a classic airport tale—chaos at the terminal, cancelled flights, and airlines offering wildly different compensation. While some stranded passengers were offered just a $30 voucher after an overnight ordeal, Bobby had the option of $1,200 to switch flights. After navigating the mayhem, he’s back in Richmond and straight back to work.

Brian
Brian reported that ski season may be nearing its end. A recent trip to the slopes revealed icy conditions, though there may still be one more powder day left if the forecast delivers. While he’s always a little sad to say goodbye to skiing and curling for the year, he’s already shifting his excitement toward the next adventure—camping season.

John
John shared joyful family news: his son Danny married Elizabeth (Ely pronounce Ellie) on Sunday. Her mother in the Dominican Republic joined the celebration by phone and was overcome with emotion during the ceremony. John joked that although he’s now “lost” three daughters to marriage, he’s gained another member of the family in Ely. He also shared a funny moment when Ely's mother asked—in Spanish—when she might expect a grandson. On the home front, renovations are almost finished, sitting at a satisfying 99%.

Blair
Blair had hoped to go curling this week, but the game was unfortunately cancelled—much to his disappointment. On the bright side, he and Michael helped deliver furniture to someone in need. Michael promised three helpers but only two showed up, meaning Blair had to do more physical labour than expected. After a day of lifting furniture instead of sitting at his desk, he felt he’d definitely earned an afternoon nap.

Garth
Garth had a full weekend of concerts from Friday through Sunday and is already looking forward to golf season—though preferably without the icy winds.

Gordon
Gordon reflected on the inspiring presentation the club heard earlier, noting how a relatively small Rotary contribution had been transformed into a much larger impact. He praised the recipients for stretching those funds so effectively and expressed the club’s hope to continue supporting their work.

Michael
Michael spent the weekend at Rotary PALS training with Amanda and Susan. The long days were packed with learning, and he suggested the trio might present a short summary to the club about what they learned and potential ideas for the future. He also gave a big thank-you to Eleanor for hosting a fantastic dinner and auction meeting the night before—highlighting her hospitality, food, and warm welcome. With his kids heading into spring break soon, he’s also looking forward to some family downtime.

Jeanette
Jeanette summed up her week succinctly: eventful—but all good.

Joyce
Joyce reflected on the powerful stories shared during the meeting, emphasizing how small acts can create a life-changing impact. She also thanked Blair and Michael for helping deliver dressers to Heartwood. On the fundraising front, she’s arranging beautiful gift baskets for the club’s auction through Bob’s Nursery and will send out details soon. She also mentioned she’ll be heading to Maui shortly.

Susan
Susan spoke about the impact of simple conversations. While working at Costco, she had a heartfelt talk with a young man feeling weighed down by global events. She encouraged him to focus on community, family, and the good he can do close to home. She also shared how much she enjoyed attending PALS training alongside Amanda and Michael, praising the excellent facilitation and the insights they gained for Rotary leadership.

Lawrence
Lawrence thanked the presenters for showing how Rotary’s support had made a difference. On a personal note, he shared that his father passed away recently. While it was a difficult time, he appreciated reconnecting with family members and hearing stories about his father. He also spent the week working at the Pacific Dental Conference, which brought back memories of its infamous role as a COVID “super-spreader” event in 2020. With spring break coming up, he’s looking forward to visiting family on the island.

Kal
Kal encouraged the club to stay engaged with future fundraising opportunities. He suggested working together on a potential fundraising effort next year that could raise around $25,000 and emphasized staying connected to make it happen.

Debbie M
Debbie found the morning’s stories inspiring and a reminder that we often don’t realize the difference we make in others’ lives. She also shared a nerve-wracking trip back from Vernon during snowy conditions on the Coquihalla Highway. Vehicles were sliding off the road and the highway was eventually closed shortly after they passed through—making her grateful they made it safely. She’s hoping for calmer waters at tonight’s paddling outing.

Judy
Judy is still battling a frustrating condo renovation that seems to involve endless forms and little visible progress. For now she’s living among boxes with furniture packed away. Despite the chaos, she managed to host a family birthday gathering for her son—complete with crockpot food, folding chairs, and improvised tables. She also proudly shared that her grandson Connor was nominated for a Canadian Young Actors Award and placed third—an impressive accomplishment for his first musical performance.

Mary Lou
Mary Lou has been celebrating her birthday in style—stretching the festivities across multiple events. Highlights included dinner with friends, playing board games, attending concerts, and revisiting Bimini’s for the first time since the 1980s to hear a band featuring former club member Bill Brooks. She joked the crowd might have been more entertaining than the music but said the night was great fun. Next up: seeing speaker Sam Harris and dinner at Dovetail.

Chris M
Chris spent the week attending inspiring events focused on women’s mental health and community support. One was a fashion show fundraiser for the Downtown Eastside Women’s Resource Centre, where women connected to the centre were celebrated on stage. Another was the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre’s 50th anniversary luncheon. These experiences reminded her how vital community, purpose, and connection are to people’s well-being—values Rotary embodies.

Dalbir
Dalbir reflected on the theme of purpose and how mentorship and opportunity shape lives. He shared memories of coming to Canada with very little and later enjoying a reunion trip to Palm Springs with university friends, including a day at the Indian Wells tennis tournament where Canadians won the women’s doubles. He emphasized how important Rotary’s fundraising is in creating meaningful impact.

Amanda
Amanda also attended PALS training and found it eye-opening, giving her plenty to think about as President-Elect. She appreciated the learning experience with Susan and Michael and enjoyed the group dinner afterward at the Royal Garden restaurant. Overall, it’s been a busy but positive week.

Debbie T
Debbie finally managed to book the long-awaited travel package she won at the auction after months of navigating blackout dates and paperwork. The result: a cruise around Hawaii this April. She also praised the inspiring presentation earlier in the meeting and reflected on seeing Rotary’s impact firsthand during a recent club trip to Mexico. With spring break starting soon, she’s looking forward to some well-earned time off.

Miscellaneous

MEANDERINGS

TODAY'S CHUCKLEs