Coldest Night of the Year is an Annapolis Valley Hot Success

The Annapolis Valley did amazingly well.  Walkers raised over $80,000 in total for our charity "Open Arms". Most amazingly, on the Coldest Night of the Year National Score Board the Annapolis Valley ranked fifth with only large Canadian cites above us. But maybe that isn't all that surprising since our small but mighty valley is home to a great many kind and wonderful people. That said, I send out a special thanks to a few non-valley heroes who sponsored my walk.  My good friend Liz Rykert of Toronto, my lovely sister Laura of Spain, and my equally lovely sister Florence and niece Evelyn of Ottawa.

 

The team of 6 staff and 5 councillors that walked under the Municipality of Kings banner is currently ranked as the 3rd most successful team in the Annapolis Valley. Despite a challenge from our Warden, only one of the other 3 municipal units participated. Unfortunately, it did quite poorly. Maybe they will all feel more inspired next year if we give them better encouragement or a hard enough ribbing!

 

1. Between a Walk and a Hard Pace... Raised: $5,981.60
2. Saint Joe's Snow Bunnies... Raised: $5,360.00
3. Municipality of Kings... Raised: $3,928.00
4. Cold Busters... Raised: $3,734.95
5. Valley Credit Union Ice Breakers... Raised: $3,205.70
 

My personal standing as a sponsored walker may be 2nd among all Annapolis Valley Walkers. I couldn't find an easy way to look up the amount raised by every walker but it looks like:

 

1. Ron Bezanson of Between a Walk and a Hard Pace... Raised: 2,316.15

2. Yours Truly... Raised: $1,600

3. Reg Outhouse of Between a Walk and a Hard Pace... Raised: $1,467.10

4. Isaiah Smith-Bezanson of Between a Walk and a Hard Pace... Raised $1,228.50

 

It's not hard to figure out why Between a Walk and a Hard Pace outpaced the other teams! Ron was the sole Annapolis Valley walker who ranked among the top 50 walkers in Canada. Ron, I'll try to make sure you aren't so lonely next year.

 

I believe a special thanks needs to go to the Coldest Night of the Year national team. This event is first and foremost a demonstration of how great organisation and leadership can result in phenomenal outcomes.

 

I am so deeply appreciative that Open Arms raised almost $77 thousand when their goal was $50 thousand! The recipient of healthy competition among teams and walkers pays off for the charities we support and I will forever be grateful for the support of all 30 of my sponsors of my first Coldest Night of the Year walk.

To learn more about Coldest Night of the Year click here. 

 

P.S. All eleven members of the Municipality of Kings team walked the full 10 kilometres. I hope they are all feeling as well rested today as me and are pumped to go in 2015!

 

Note: The Coldest Night of the Year is operated under the charitable and financial oversight of Blue Sea Philanthropy, (BSP), a registered Canadian charity (public foundation, 819882655RR0001) in partnership with approved (and well loved), registered Canadian charities who serve the hungry, homeless and hurting in communities across Canada.