iClimb: A Thousand Steps in the Right Direction

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Over 1000 steps of grueling agony.
Over 1000 steps of pressure and pain.
Over 1000 steps of glory.

That is what many windsorites faced so far this chilly February morning as United Way held its annual iClimb event at the WFCU Centre.

This morning, beginning earlier than 6am, volunteers and staff from United Way had arrived at the arena and began preparing for the day’s event. The volunteers, motivated by the love of helping the community, and an encouraging leader, cheered on the participants as they ascended and descended the steps.

“Funds raised through the 2013 iClimb for United Way will support United Way Funded After-School Programs across Windsor and Essex County.  Last year, 1,312 children from Windsor-Essex took part in these programs,” said Stephanie Perta, managerof marketing and communications, in a media release earlier this week.

The annual iClimb event is now in its fourth year. For those unaware of the iClimb, it is, simply put, climbing steps. Many of them. In fact, over 1000 of them. Windsorites and people from surrounding local communities raise money for United Way. Once the money has been raised, they come to the arena for the climb, either as an individual or as a team. Upon arrival, volunteers are ready to prepare the participants with a brief stretching session. With their blood pumping, they make their way to the numerous steps that stretch around the arena’s main bowl. At the end, they feel a sense of accomplishment, gazing around the arena, some in awe of the number of steps actually climbed. They are also rewarded with fruit, water, and other nutricious foods.

Teams that have participated thus far include Windsor EMS, Windsor Star and TD Bank.

This year, the iClimb features an inflatable iObstacle Course. Following the climb, partipants are invited for a friendly race against each other. Also new this year is the iWalk: a section for participants to walk around to warm up.

The iClimb runs today, throught the day from 7am-7pm.

For more information about the United Way, and the iClimb, visit www.unitedway.ca and www.weareunited.com/iclimb.