Stride and Glide raises over $50,000 for advanced stroke care at KGH
Stride and Glide raises over $50,000. Pictured L-R: George Carr, Bettina Muller, Lyle Nicholson, Kathy Van Leur, Wendy Vandenberg and William Pao. (Submitted photo/KGH Foundation)
To say the inaugural Stride & Glide for Kelowna General Hospital was a success would be an understatement.
The Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe club set out to raise $20,000, and donations keep on ‘gliding’ in. But as of today, they more than doubled the initial fundraising goal and have raised $50,246 to support a revolutionary, comprehensive advanced stroke care plan that will radically transform treatment for patients living in the southern interior of B.C.
Despite the uncertain times, over 100 participants committed to challenging themselves with a new cross-country or snowshoe distance, and over 50 champions created fundraising pages in support of the event. All teams were working together to raise much-needed funds in support of the KGH Foundation’s Every Moment Matters campaign to radically advance stroke care in the southern interior.
“Stroke is devastating and affects so many in our community – over 1800 patients and families in our region last year,” Bettina Muller, Events and Project Manager at the KGH Foundation, said. “We are so grateful to our friends at the Nordic Ski and Snoweshoe Club and couldn’t be more proud of their success. In the end, everyone wins.”
“We are deeply humbled by the community’s support,” Lyle Nicholson, a director for the Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club and one of the event organizers, stated. “We wanted to create something fun and safe during the pandemic that still encouraged people to go enjoy the outdoors and support a good cause. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. It’s been a pleasure seeing a little friendly competition take place, and all for such a worthwhile cause!”
Nicholson extends gratitude to Nicola Wealth, the event’s title sponsor. “We are proud to partner with the KGH Foundation and Kelowna Nordic to support the talent, care, and research brought to us by the incredible medical professionals at KGH,” said William Pao, Financial Advisor for Nicola Wealth. “The generosity in the Okanagan is part of what makes our community so special. Thank you for your support of the advanced stroke care campaign at Kelowna General Hospital.”
The success of the event has inspired the Kelowna Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Club to consider making Stride & Glide an annual event – perhaps even bigger and better.