Rotary Club of Nanaimo Daybreak celebrated its silver anniversary by holding a 2,500-kilometre fundraiser and donating some $25,000 to local non-profit groups.
In honour of the club’s 1996 establishment, members rebooted the Parkway Challenge, an early fundraising effort, as the 25 for 25 Challenge. Bonnie Murrell, club member, said challenge lasted from May 25-June 25, with 25 non-profits taking part. The goal was to travel the equivalent distance of Vancouver Island, about 2,500 kilometres, and people could track mileage via the My Virtual Mission app.
The club will be hosting a celebratory presentation event next Friday, July 16 beginning at 5 p.m. at Maffeo Sutton Park.
“Our goal was for people just to do five kilometres a week, but lots of people did way more than that and it got people very, very active out in the community,” Murrell said.
The $25 registration fee went to the organization of the participant’s choice, and pledges could be solicited on top of that.
“The other thing that was happening in the background was we were talking and advertising these 25 agencies with the hope that people would make donations along the way,” said Murrell.
In all, participants travelled 21,015 kilometres for the duration of event. Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society reached the target distance first and Mid-Island Community Bands Society also cracked the 2,500km mark.
Others taking part were were Nanaimo Child Development Centre, BGC Canada Central Vancouver Island, Vancouver Island Mental Health Society, Literacy Central Vancouver Island, Crimson Coast Dance Society, Royal Canadian Air Cadets 205 Collishaw Squadron, Nanaimo Community Kitchens Society, Island Crisis Care Society, Nanaimo Unique Kids Organization, Vancouver Island Symphony, Crossroads Pregnancy Centre, Nanaimo Ladysmith Schools Foundation’s Food4Schools program, Nanaimo Science, Nanaimo Family Life Association, Leadership Vancouver Island, Island Health PARTY program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island, Society for Equity, Inclusion and Advocacy, Nanaimo Brain Injury Society, Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank, Nanaimo 7-10 Club Society, Salvation Army Nanaimo and Nanaimo Youth Services Association.
The Daybreak club formed after founders saw another club running out of space for members, according to Murrell. The original Parkway Challenge was held as part of the opening of the Nanaimo Parkway in 1997, she said.
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