MitoCanada

Join us for the first annual “Light Up for Miller” community gathering at Memorial Park in White Rock, BC to share a sweet treat, connect with the community, and watch the White Rock Pier light up for mito on the evening of September 20th. The event is hosted by Taylor and Chris Collins who lost their 5-month-old son Miller to an extremely rare form of MT-TL1-related mitochondrial disease in October 2025.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the first-annual Dinks for a Difference Classic such a success. Together, our pickleballers helped raise more than $3,800 in support of MitoCanada. All proceeds went towards supporting Canadians living with mitochondrial disease through education, support, awareness and transformational research. A special thank you to the team at YYC Pickleball, especially owner Ivy Chan, for hosting this incredible fundraiser in support of MitoCanada.

Welcome to the heart of our community – where passionate individuals and groups across the country come together to support MitoCanada! This page is your go-to destination for all the incredible events happening nationwide in support of those impacted by mitochondrial disease. We are deeply grateful to the dedicated individuals and organizations who take the time to plan and host these events.

In Loving Memory: Kailani Gorzo, a loving 14-year-old girl who brought so much light into this world. It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Kailani Gorzo. Kailani was beautiful, she meant everything to her family and friends, and her love ran deep. Being around her made you feel special, seen, and truly loved. She found happiness in the simplest and most beautiful things, butterflies, rainbows, and her favourite colour purple.

Join Kaylee and our friends at LivvWell Wellness Hub for the inaugural Movement for Mito class. This 50-minute yoga class will get your mitochondria energized! For those living with mitochondrial disease, daily exercise is essential to supporting your health. From improving strength and energy levels to reducing fatigue, stress, and anxiety, exercise offers many important benefits. Even small increases in physical activity can make a difference and provide benefits for everyone.

Mito Glow Walk – Saskatoon To end World Mitochondrial Disease Week, let’s walk for Tanner and all the Mito warriors who are living with mitochondrial disease. Each year on Light Up for Mito day, friends, family, and members of the community dress in bright green and glowing gear gathered to walk for Tanner and all the mito warriors who have fought or continue to fight mitochondrial disease.⁠ Tanner was the baby who completed Leeanne and Patrick Wilson’s family, joining his big brother, Nolan.

Sunset Picnic Gathering Join families, friends, and community members in Ottawa for a Sunset Picnic in recognition of Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Month at Des Pionniers Park. Inspired by Catherine, a young girl living with Leigh syndrome, this gathering was inspired by the simple way her family has learned to approach life since her diagnosis, by making time for one another, celebrating everyday moments, and creating memories together.

The Great Clyde Challenge Trivia Night Gather your team and join us for the inaugural Great Clyde Challenge Trivia Night, a community-led evening of  fun in support of MitoCanada. With trivia, laughs, prizes, raffles, a 50/50 draw and great company, it's a chance to have fun, bring people together, and make a meaningful difference for Canadians impacted by mitochondrial disease. Not playing trivia?

At MitoCanada, the stories, images, and resources we share are grounded in the lived experiences of individuals and families, and in collaboration with clinicians and researchers across Canada and beyond. This content is shared with us through trust and partnership. We carry a responsibility to ensure it is used with care, respect, and integrity. We are stewards of the content entrusted to us, whether it reflects a personal story, a research partnership, or an educational resource.

MitoCanada uses images, illustrations, icons, and design elements across our website to help make information more welcoming, accessible, and engaging for our community. Some of the images and design elements used on this website have been created or adapted through Canva using MitoCanada’s Canva Pro account. Canva’s licensing terms allow licensed users to use eligible Canva content in their designs, subject to Canva’s Content License Agreement and related terms.