You can help support physical activities for kids with special needs by taking a trip to the gym this Saturday.
The GoodLife Fitness Spin4Kids and Lift4Kids national fundraiser, in support of the GoodLife Kids Foundation, will be held from coast to coast on November 16, including at GoodLife's Sarnia Oak Acres' location.
Event Coordinator Ashleigh Charron said it's a fun way to help kids with specials needs to discover the joys and benefits of being active.
"So you can get a team together of up to eight participants, and the team fundraising goal is $1,000, so $125 per participant. So you can come in your regular fitness gear, you can dress up, you can have a funky team name, and we encourage teams to just have fun with it because it is for a kids' event."
Charron said since 2012, around 7,500 people each year have taken part in the annual fundraiser.
Charron also said applications are now being accepted for the foundation's grant program.
"We have this fundraiser but there's also the grant program -- so eligible organizations can apply for up to $10,000 in funding from the GoodLife Kids Foundation. In the past, Pathways Health Centre for Children received $8,000 for repairs to their therapeutic pool," said Charron. "Our main thing right now is that we would like to open it up to other charities in the community to actually apply for this grant. So it's open to anyone that fits under these lines that is in need of funding for repairs, programming or anything like that, that revolves around helping kids with special needs."
Charron said the foundation continues to make a big impact locally.
"For kids with special needs, the path to getting active isn't always as simple as just joining the local sports team or signing up for lessons around the corner, so the GoodLife Kids Foundation grants provide funding to support programs that offer ongoing physical activity opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities and autism."
Charron said you can help the club's fundraising initiatives by donating silent auction items, services, or monetary donations.
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