Niagara boys on mission to send children to camp
YMCA’s Move for Kids event Feb. 29
Two young Niagara boys are doing their part to help children and families facing financial barriers access YMCA programs.
Brothers Pierce, 6, and Kieran, 8, have raised more than $500 by pledging to go down the waterslide at MacBain Community Centre’s YMCA in Niagara Falls 25 times each on Feb. 29.
It’s part of the annual Move for Kids event, through which YMCA of Niagara invites people to spin, walk, swim or run to support local children at its five sites across the region.
All funds raised help children and families in need access such things as swimming lessons, physical literacy programs and day camp.
Participants are encouraged to dress up as superheroes and be an everyday hero by supporting local kids.
And that’s what Pierce and Kieran plan to do, as characters from “The Incredibles.”
Both have attended the Niagara Falls Y and the agency’s summer camp program.
Pierce and Kieran’s father, Ajay Bhardwaj, said although the family lives in Grimsby, they attend YMCA locations across Niagara.
He said his sons wanted to do a “slideathon” to send kids to camp.
“They feel that raising money will be fun. They may never meet the kids that they’re helping, but it could be the kids who go to camp with them.”
Bhardwaj said it was Pierce who came up with the idea.
“We went to a water park two months ago and he didn’t meet the height (requirement), so our hearts were a little uneasy. We were happy when we went about three weeks ago to the Y and he made height — he had a growth spurt, I guess, in the past two months and he basically said, ‘Daddy, please don’t cut my hair’ because he just made the line.”
Bhardwaj said he believes his sons have been positively influenced by their parents, teachers at school and staff at the YMCA.
“They have a good culture at school — that idea of giving to community — they get it at the Y, we think we have that at home, they’re just sort of doing these things on their own. We just want them to do what they want to do and support them, but we really think they’re being influenced by all of these people around them.”
Kristy McKitrick, YMCA of Niagara development manager, said Pierce and Kieran are two of a number of “superheroes who are doing athletic feats and raising money so kids can access YMCA programs and services.”
“It’s amazing that they have the understanding that there are kids in need and that they have the capacity to help them,” she said.
“They are putting themselves out there, they are challenging themselves to do something. When you see someone as young as six and eight, just to have the mindset to do that, it really speaks to them as children who are going to be philanthropic adults.”
Everyone is welcome to participate in the event, not just members of the Y, said McKitrick.
The event, expected to draw about 700 participants, runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register, visit moveforkids.ca. This will be the event’s sixth year.
“Every year, we’ve raised a bit more money to help kids access membership services and camp through the YMCA,” said McKitrick.
“Last year, we raised just over $90,000. We’re just over halfway to our $100,000 goal right now,” which would support more than 500 children.