These two did their part in the group Runners of Compassion, who walked on the Coldest Night of the Year. (submitted/Corrie Corfield)

By Spencer Sterritt

helping out

Coldest Night of the Year event raises over $60,000 for valuable programs

Feb 25, 2020 | 7:12 AM

NANAIMO — Night are getting warmer and another Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser has come and gone.

Roughly 300 people either took part in the walk or volunteered on Saturday, Feb. 22. Those who walked did so on either a two, five or 10 kilometres route to get a brief experience of what it’s like living on the streets during the winter.

Organizer Corrie Corfield with Island Crisis Care Society said they raised over $60,000 between walks in Nanaimo and Parksville. The money will fund programs run by the Society, including housing and rent subsidies. The $25,000 raised in the Parksville walk is the sole funding for the Oceanside outreach program.

Corfield said many people joined the cause the day of, especially in Nanaimo.

“It’s always a challenge for events like this because you want to get people on board as early as possible, so they can get out into the community fundraising. So we’re looking at ways of doing that better for next year.”

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Given the very public and sometimes controversial discussions happening in both communities about homelessness, Corfield said it’s heartening to see people take the time to help.

“You hear a lot about the negative side of things but on Saturday night we saw a lot of the positive. We saw a lot of people come out and wish our program well.”

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit