Deadlifts for Dreams 7

Time to brush up on your deadlifts, because they're going to come in handy! Deadlifts for Dreams is back for its 7th year!

Since 2019, thanks to your incredible participation and support, Deadlifts for Dreams has raised over $200,000 for kids in Manitoba facing life-threatening illnesses. We're gearing up to make 2025 another great year and our biggest year yet! But we can't do it without your help!

This year's Deadlifts for Dreams event will be taking place on Saturday, September 13 2025 at Training Grounds Gym in St. Malo, MB. This exciting event will be complete with outdoor activities for kids and families, an onsite barbeque, and of course - our main event: Deadlifts!

If you've participated in Deadlifts for Dreams in the past, we hope you'll consider joining us once again for this year's event. If you are new to lifting or are concerned that you're our of practice or might not have enough time to train - please consider still joining us in our mission to make dreams come true. Our Deadlifts for Dreams community is a welcoming one, and we're all working together to bring dreams to life!

Meet Oats - A Letter From A Dream Parent

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Otsonen is a kind and fun-loving five year old with a gentle heart. He enjoys playing outside, having "pokemon battles", and caring for others (especially his little brother Olli!). He loves spending time at The Forks eating fish and chips, going on adventures at Clear Lake and gets very excited for a science experiment.

When Otsonen, also known as "Oats", was a few months old, we began to notice strange symptoms. After countless appointments, hospital admissions, and genetic investigations, Otsonen was diagnosed with STAT 1 Gain of Function (GOF), just after he turned three.
 
STAT 1 GOF is an extremely rare, life threatening primary immunodeficiency that has a wide variety of debilitating symptoms. A few months after his diagnosis, despite never having encountered a case before, doctors decided that he needed a Bone Marrow Transplant. We were admitted in November 2023 for high-dose chemotherapy and transplant. Many severe complications followed during our nearly 5 month admission, including Acute Stage 4 GVHD and Encephalitis resulting in seizures. Despite the odds, Otsonen made it through and brought so much joy to everyone he met during recovery.
 
The Dream Factory has made an enormous impact on our lives during the hardest days of Otsonen's journey. They have given us moments of joy with the delivery of gifts in the hospital, messages of support, and opportunities to create family memories. The Dream Factory has given Otsonen hope for the future and we are so grateful for their support.

Meet Details

Date: September 13, 2025
Location: Training Grounds Gym - 21129 Trunk Hwy 59, Saint Malo, MB
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

For Guests:

Not a lifter but curious to come and check out the event? We'd love to have you! We're planning on having a number of family friendly activities on site in addition to the main event and post-meet BBQ. It's going to be an incredible day of athleticism and making dreams come true. Come check it out!

Our Sponsors

Become a Sponsor

Your company can become a sponsor of Deadlifts for Dreams 7, an event bringing together athletes from across Manitoba for a friendly competition with one shared goal in mind: to make some very special dreams come true.

Your sponsorship will help us reach our goal of providing magical moments and unforgettable memories to kids in Manitoba facing life-threatening illnesses. Plus, you will be a proud partner in one of Manitoba's most unique fundraising events.

Please reach out to Chelsea Walker to express your interest in becoming a sponsor and to learn more about the event.

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Our Mission:

To bring comfort and joy to Manitoba kids battling life-threatening illnesses and their families by creating the brightest moments throughout their medical journey and beyond.

Our Vision:

A Manitoba where every sick child and their family has access to a lasting community of support, available to them for as long as they need.

Our Values:

The Dream Factory is powered by the values of authenticity, trust, community, reliability, and - most importantly: fun!