Kelowna and Kamloops are challenging each other to see who can get the most participants out for the Coldest Night of the Year walk on Feb. 23.
In Kelowna, the fundraising walk is being organized by the Gospel Mission's 30K Club. The New Life Mission is co-ordinating the walk in Kamloops.
"This is a friendly competition that benefits the very people both our organizations serve," said Jessica Samuels, co-ordinator of the 30K Club. "The more walkers we get, the more money we raise, and the more help we can provide those in our towns who really
need it."
Coldest Night of the Year is a non-competitive five- and 10-km winter-walk fundraiser for charities that serve the hungry, homeless and hurting in cities across Canada. The walk provides participants the opportunity to experience a hint of the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness by walking for a few hours during a cold Canadian night in the dead of winter.
This is the second year for both cities, with 115 participants raising just more than $20,000 last year in Kelowna. Kamloops had 230 walkers who raised $34,751.
The walk will start and finish at First United Church, at Bernard and Richter. Registration is at 4 p.m. and the walking begins at 5 p.m.
More information can be found online at , which has a link to local walk information.