A fundraising walk in Bolton supported programs that help Caledon residents aged 55 and older stay active and connected, as the Caledon Seniors’ Centre works toward a $100,000 fundraising goal.
The centre held its Hike for Healthy Living on September 27 at its location at 7 Rotarian Way, according to the Caledon Citizen. Participants could choose from one-, two- or five-kilometre routes designed to accommodate different fitness levels.
The walk was one of the centre’s main fundraising initiatives. Money raised supports programs and services focused on social connection, active living and quality of life for older adults in the Caledon area.
The broader fundraising goal is intended to help the centre keep costs low while making its services available to more seniors. The report did not give a total raised through the walk.
Centre manager Beverley Nurden described reducing isolation and building friendships as central parts of the organization’s work.
“Our goal is to help ease social isolation and foster meaningful connections, by creating a welcoming space where friendships grow, and no one feels alone,” Nurden told the Caledon Citizen.
For organizers, the event was also an opportunity to introduce more people to the centre. Tina, a volunteer and event organizer identified by her first name in the report, said she wanted community members to learn more about the programs available and the centre’s role in their lives.
Participants began checking in at 10 a.m. A greeting and brief announcement were followed by warm-up exercises before walkers set out at 11 a.m.
Community members registered individually or as teams, and several brought dogs along. After the walk, a barbecue lunch gave participants time to meet and talk with one another.
Fundraising coordinator RaDeana Montgomery said she hoped the walk would become an annual event. She thanked both the community members who supported it and the volunteers who helped make it possible.
Montgomery told the Caledon Citizen that volunteers account for 80 per cent of the centre’s workers, underscoring their role in keeping the organization operating.
The centre also identified a Country Hoedown scheduled for October 23 as its next major event, open to the wider community. Information about the centre and donations is available at caledonseniors.ca.
