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More than 125 residents of Park Extension, concerned about maintaining and improving services for senior citizens at an Ogilvy Avenue golden age centre, had beautiful weather on Sept. 13 for a fundraising walk-a-thon, which is rapidly turning into an annual tradition.
Under a mostly sunny sky, the participants made their way from the centre along Ogilvy, Birnam, Jarry, Querbes, St. Roch and Outremont streets, with a 10-minute stop at Jarry Park, before returning to the centre. They walked about four kilometres in all. The funds they raised will be helping improve a number of services at FILIA, such as the meals-on-wheels program, for which the centre hopes to purchase a new delivery vehicle.
$5,000 raised
The first fundraising walk-a-thon for the FILIA Seniors Association was held last year and raised more than $6,000 in donor pledges. "We want to make this a family affair," said Joanna Tsoublekas, the founder and director of the centre, which has more than 300 members. This year's event was expected to bring in at least $5,000. Those unable to walk could still participate by riding in a bus that followed the route.
"This is good and healthy for the citizens in Park Extension," said Borough Mayor Anie Samson. "A lot of people they don't exercise, but this is a good excuse to walk with friends on a Saturday morning." "I was here last year also," said Laurier-Dorion Liberal MNA Gerry Sklavounos, who was born and raised in Park Extension. "It's a wonderful event that brings together seniors, principally women, but also men of Greek origin from the area, but it's not limited to people of Greek origin.
Good for the health
"It promotes physical activity among seniors, which we know is very important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle," he added. "It's an excellent initiative and I'm always proud to participate. It's a nice way to bring seniors out of their isolation. I think the key is that seniors have places and organizations that offer to them activities to get them out of their homes to be physically active, to make friends, to exchange.
"Back in the days of our parents and grandparents, most people took care of their parents and had them living in the home with them," Sklavounos said. "Today we a lot of seniors are isolated, they live in their own apartments, in subsidized housing as residents. I think any occasion we can find to get them out and active has to be promoted and supported by the local authorities." Park Extension city councillor Mary Deros noted the walk-a-thon was an opportunity to get out in the open and do something healthy.
Weather was great
"It's great for the health," she said. "Last year, we had a little bit of rain. This year the rain's holding off, so it's great weather." The FILIA centre will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year and Tsoublekas says there will be a big celebration. "Next year we are going to have a party for the people who we have supported all these years. These are the people who supported us and that is why we still exist today."
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