If you’ve ever been sad to leave the ski hill at closing time, there’s an event for you.
Next weekend is the annual charity event that features 24 hours of non-stop skiing or snowboarding.
24h Blue Mtn is back for a third year at the local ski hill to raise money for Special Olympics Ontario and The Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) Foundation.
The event is a team relay requiring one person from each team on the hill skiing or snowboarding for 24 hours from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon.
“It’s a fantastic event,” said Glenn MacDonell, president and CEO of Special Olympics Ontario. His organization does a lot of the registration and day-of coordination for the relay, which is hosted by a third-party.
Special Olympics Ontario receives 80 per cent of the proceeds from the event and CGMH gets the remaining 20 per cent.
He said the local Special Olympics ski teams in Collingwood always attend the event, and this year he expects about 40 athletes to attend.
“They take a lot of pride in participating and being the beneficiary of the event,” said MacDonell. “Particularly [the benefit] is awareness. It’s a real hub of awareness for ourselves and the Collingwood hospital. And they say money usually follows awareness. In this case, it’s true.”
The first-ever event three years ago brought in about $40,000. Last year was nearly $80,000 and this year, MacDonell said they are reaching for a goal of $120,000.
Jory Pritchard-Kerr, president and CEO of the CGMH Foundation, said 24h is the largest third-party fundraiser benefiting the foundation.
The hospital foundation received approximately $130,000 last year from what they call third-party fundraisers, and those can range from a family yard sale, a child collecting birthday money, or a plant sale to something large like 24h Blue Mtn.
In the case of this event, the third-party organizers have access to larger corporate sponsors, which helps offset the cost of the large event and ensure the money raised by participants goes to the charities instead of operating costs.
This year Canada Life is the title sponsor of the event.
The involvement of Special Olympics Ontario also means the event has volunteers and registration resources the hospital wouldn’t be able to provide on its own.
“It’s a great partnership,” said Pritchard-Kerr. “We try to partner with other charities wherever we can … It’s important to make sure the entire community is benefitting.”
Both the hospital foundation and Special Olympics Ontario are dependent on fundraising dollars to do their work.
MacDonell said about six per cent of Special Olympics Ontario budget is funded by the government.
“Fundraising is a big thing,” said McDonell, adding the organization includes 26,000 athletes, half of whom are under the age of 20.
The hospital foundation is also dedicated to fundraising for items not funded by the government.
“What’s really important is the message that the government doesn’t pay for everything at the hospital,” said Pritchard-Kerr. “We as a community are responsible for bringing in the technologies we need.”
Much of the equipment in the hospital, from operating tables to x-rays, to room upgrades, is paid for by donations collected by the foundation.
The event begins Friday evening (Feb. 21) with a reception. Saturday, Feb. 22 starts with breakfast and an opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. The event begins at noon and will end Sunday, Feb. 23 at noon.
Teams of up to 12 can register online, and the team with the most runs in 24 hours wins.
“It’s all in good fun, but it’s quite competitive,” said Pritchard-Kerr.
This year will feature a snowboard specific competition that will pit snowboard teams against each other for prizes.
The walk/run relay is returning to give participants a flat-land option to participate. Walking or running participants will follow a relay course that winds through Blue Mountain Village.
To learn more about 24h Blue Mtn, click here.
