The Niagara College Knight Walkers have a bragging right heading into this year’s Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk.
They’re the second largest team in Canada with more than 40 people signed up for the event happening Saturday, Feb. 26 in Welland.
But team organizer, Hairstyling Prof. Joe Abbruscato, says there’s still room for more, especially students.
The goal is to have at least 50 walkers who will depart from the Welland Campus at 4 p.m. on Saturday. They’ll walk through the city in this family-friendly event that raises money for local charities — in this case Open Arms Mission — helping people experiencing hunger and homelessness.
The team’s fundraising goal is set at $5,000. The tally currently exceeds that, but Abbruscato stressed the need is constant at Open Arms Mission’s food and personal care bank operations.
“That doesn’t mean we stop,” Abbruscato said. “There’s still a lot of need in our community.”
Coldest Night of the Year is an important opportunity for students to step up with the rest of the College to give back to the community they call home, said Sam Jemison, President of the Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC).
“It’ll be a cold night, but knowing we’re supporting an incredible organization, Open Arms Mission of Welland, makes it more than worth it,” Jemison said. “We encourage students, staff, and the general community to join us at the Welland Campus on the 26th for a lot of fun for a very worthy cause.”
To help, NCSAC will serve chilli and hot chocolate to fuel participants through the event.
NC President Sean Kennedy will lace up his boots and walk for the cause again this year. Seeing College staff, faculty and students come together to make Niagara better is heartwarming, he said.
“Coldest Night of the Year is when we can all come together to strengthen our community,” Kennedy said. “It’s always one of my favourite events, and one where we, as a College, can have significant, positive impact. I look forward to seeing many familiar faces at this year’s event, and new ones, too.”
Check-in for Coldest Night of the Year begins at 3:30 p.m. The walk starts from Parking Lot A# on the Welland Campus (at the corner of North Road and Niagara College Boulevard).
Walkers can choose to do a two- or five-kilometre route, both ending back at the campus.
