Charity Raises Money to Send Kids to Summer Camp
Although the base of my feet felt bruised, my thumbs were stiff and I couldn’t stand up straight, it was well worth it – we raised over $30,000 to help send 30 underprivileged kids to camp this summer. On June 5, I was one of 48 volunteers to participate in the annual Canoe Heads for Kids event in support of Amici Camping Charity, a non-profit organization that shares the gift of summer camp. Canoe Heads for Kids is a 40km portage and paddle along Toronto’s shoreline and has become Amici Camping Charity’s largest fundraising event.
It was eerie paddling across the Toronto harbour when we set out first thing in the morning; the city was sleeping and mist was rising in front of the Gardiner Expressway. Shortly thereafter we began the portage, heading west towards Etobicoke and the mighty Humber River a mere 20km away. The bulk of the portage was along the Waterfront Trail with detours through the Distillery district and Queens Quay – and for one team, a stop at the Rogers Centre and another to put their canoe on top of a double-decker bus. Onlookers watched as we walked past with canoes on our shoulders; some asked about the event and even donated to the cause.
By afternoon, as we headed out on the final paddling stretch of our journey, the wind was firmly at our backs, pushing us to the finish line. It was somewhat surreal canoeing through the harbour with the CN tower to the left, Porter planes flying overhead and the wake of the Island Ferry tossing us around. I wonder what the coureurs de bois would think. Nine hours (and 40km) after we started out, we all returned safety to dry land … until next year’s Canoe Heads!
Amici Camping Charity sends kids to summer camp who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend. Once a child attends camp through Amici, they are sponsored to return for as long as the family requires financial support. This year, 140 children will attend over 25 Amici partner camps in Ontario, thanks to events like Canoe Heads for Kids. For more information about Canoe Heads or Amici, please visit: www.amicicharity.org.
[Our Kids would like to thank Stu Snyder, Team Frontenac Captain for sending in this article]
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