A banner first year for adult stair climb
Posted By Hugo Rodrigues, SENTINEL-REVIEW
Updated 20 days ago
The first ever United Way of Oxford stair climb for adults had a few key differences from the student one that happened hours earlier.
The adults, a little longer in the tooth perhaps and not as supple and ready for action as teenagers, got a five-minute aerobic warm-up courtesy of staff and volunteers from the United Way member agency YMCA of Woodstock.
When they reached the far end of the red pad at Southwood Arena, they got another treat.
"OK -- you guys are getting a skill-testing question: The United Way symbol consists of three parts. Which three parts?" asked United Way of Oxford executive director Kelly Gilson.
The first team from Timberland answered the question correctly, lopping off the need to climb the top section of the stands in the arena and moving on. For the record, the symbol contains illustrations of a person inside a hand whose fingers are shaped like a rainbow.
Most of the climb's 16 teams were able to answer other questions about the United Way correctly and avoid these top stairs and the extra exertion that may have come easier to the teens earlier in the day.
A few that did avoid them came back and climbed them anyway, just to show their good spirit.
The event was run for the first-time ever in 2009, raising a total of $7,975.50 in pledges towards the $880,000 United Way of Oxford campaign goal. The Toyota RAV cats were the top fundraising team, pulling in $1,263 in pledges.
"It looks to be a fairly enthusiastic crowd for this first time," campaign chair and Woodstock Police Service chief Rod Freeman said. "Every little bit helps."
Emcee Adam Nyp from 104.7 Heart FM told the crowd the stair climb was a great event for businesses and community groups to start supporting the United Way campaign, particularly for those businesses that may not have a workplace campaign in place.
hrodrigues@bowesnet.com
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