YWCA Cambridge has just two words to say to its community.
‘Thank you!” said YWCA Cambridge spokesperson Nataleigh Ballantyne. “Thanks to the people of Cambridge and area, our 14th annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes fundraiser was another great success, raising just shy of $10,000 to fund our gender-based violence prevention programming.”
Despite the atrocious rainy, windy, cold weather, over 40 people laced up their shoes, donned their red t-shirts (donated by t-shirt sponsor Meridian Credit Union) and proudly walked the mile to support this much needed programming.
“Offering free programming about preventing gender-based violence to local women, girls and gender diverse folks is so important, in order to stop gender-based violence at its root, before it takes hold in our community,” continued Ballantyne. “This necessary programming has no core funding, so it’s critical that we raise the funds necessary to keep it going, and to keep it going at no cost to participants, so that we can change our communities for the better.”
YWCA Cambridge would like to thank everyone who helped with the walk, not only those who laced up on the day. “We had so many participants, those who came out and volunteered on walk day, those who shared and promoted, and those who donated,” said Ballantyne.
“We also would like to send a big thank you to our sponsors, The Beat and Dave FM, who brought their tent out, which really helped with the challenging weather,” said Ballantyne. “Thank you to Sobeys for the delicious lunch they provided to everyone who came out. And thank you to Toyota, and Meridian Credit Union, who provided those signature red t-shirts. It is really heartwarming for us to have that level of support from the businesses in our community,” she added.
Would you like to support YWCA Cambridge in its efforts? Don’t worry, you haven’t missed your chance. “We are still accepting donations to this vital programming,” said Ballantyne. “People can donate through our website. And, coming up, we are celebrating 75 years of programming in Cambridge, so there will be lots of other opportunities to get involved and to donate to help us, help Cambridge.”
For more information about YWCA Cambridge, their programming, and how you can get involved, go here.