Two upstanding citizens will again stand up for charity.
Longtime friends Brittney Page and Kristin Postill will meet again for their annual Stand Up For… paddleboard fundraising challenge Saturday, July 8.
Stand Up For is an annual local fundraising effort by Page and Postill where they paddleboard the length of Kalamalka Lake – around 18 kilometres – in support of a chosen charity.
This year they will be paddling for North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society (NOYFSS), which has been serving the region for more than 49 years.
NOYFSS offers a broad range of social programs reflecting the dynamic needs of the community, specifically for the healthy development of children, youth and families in the North Okanagan. NOYFSS serves more than 1,200 families in the community annually.
Funds raised will provide free educational groups and counseling services for youth in high risk situations, including those living on their own or facing homelessness. These supports often help solidify proper and safe housing, giving youth in this community the best opportunity to succeed, despite the circumstances of their situation.
“Since we like to focus our efforts for the paddle on organizations serving youth and women in our community, this year we couldn’t be more honoured to be paddling for NOYFSS,” said Page. “They do so much in our community. The work they are doing is not only incredibly important but also inspiring.”
This is the sixth Annual Stand Up For fundraising paddle Page and Postill have led. So far they have raised more than $130,000 for the community, contributing The Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative, KidSport Okanagan, The People Place, Archway Society for Domestic Peace and Starfish Pack in Vernon.
Postill and Page have set a lofty goal of raising $25,000 in just a few weeks. But both women who have played professional sports globally now once again call the Okanagan home are here for the challenge. Friends since elementary school, they say it’s important to them to support the community that helped shape their youth.
“Having healthy relationships is not something that is just innate in us. It’s a learned behavior and not all of us are fortunate to have grown up with strong role models that taught us the ropes,” said Postill. “The work that NOYFSS does is so important to the foundation of our community.
“NOYFSS is not only providing skill building tools to children, youth and families, but ultimately they are creating opportunities to build healthier communities as a whole. We are determined to achieve our goal and know we can blow it out of the park with the support of our incredible Okanagan community.”
To make a donation online, visit canadahelps.org/endn/m.90532?v2=true.
