Edmontonians ‘spread the love’ at charity walk downtown

The Coldest Night of the Year is one of the Bissell Centre's biggest fundraisers, with money supporting programs to help people and families with housing, finances and mental health. (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton)

Hundreds of Edmontonians could be seen walking through downtown on Saturday to help raise money for their vulnerable neighbours.

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The Coldest Night of The Year is one of the Bissell Centre’s biggest fundraisers of the year.

Teams joined up to raise money and then walk two or five kilometres through downtown Edmonton.

Chris Schieman, with the Bissell Centre, said there were about 400 people making up the 78 teams participating this year.

“Last I checked this morning, when I was looking at the numbers, we were at already 92 per cent of our goal – around $130,000 of our $150,000 goal,” he said. “I am absolutely elated at the turnout we’ve been seeing.”

A team of six joined from Thrive Elementary.

“I like it because it supports our community,” said Sarah Hunter, from Team Thrive.

“We are just wanting to reach out for all vulnerable people,” added her teammate Tracy Moore. “We just want to spread the love.”

Funds raised go to programming for housing, mental health and addictions, eviction prevention and financial empowerment. It’s available virtually to individuals and families.

“It’s just looking at all of these different factors from different perspectives and helping people find those unique paths out of poverty,” Schieman said.

Last year, 500 people on 50 teams raised $186,000.