It truly is like taking a walk in their shoes.
The second annual CNIB Night Steps fundraising event is a five-kilometre walk under the stars at The Forks on Sept. 11.
“The reason for it being at night with glow items is that we’re trying to provide a glimpse as to what it would be like for someone living with vision loss to be able to navigate independently,” Wanda Mills, CNIB’s associate director of philanthropy, said on Thursday. “Then they can have a greater idea of what it’s like for their friends and family members who live with vision loss every day.
“It’s a national event that is being held in six other centres across Canada.”
It’s in the darkness, but perfectly safe and away from the riverwalk, Mills noted, adding it’s hoped 200 people will take part this year.
Participants can register online at cnibnightsteps.ca (go to the Winnipeg location) or call 204-774-5421 or email [email protected].
Money is raised through registrations or pledges and the top pledge-earner wins a prize. The funds go toward CNIB’s vital programs and services.
“We’re the primary caregiver and first place that people come to when they lose their vision,” Mills said. “Services include orientation mobility, which is independent travel and independent living skills.”
Such skills can include helping people to navigate their home in order to cook, do laundry, and organize closets to know what colour of clothing they’re wearing, Mills said.
“It’s all of the daily household needs you would know beforehand, but need to re-learn … to do something like wash your floor or figure out what kind of soup you’re going to make,” she said.
There are more than 6,000 Manitobans who are blind or partially sighted. CNIB will provide service to more than 1,500 of them annually.
“The event is going to be fun, there’s going to be great food and we’re going to wrap up the event with a fireworks show from Archangel,” Mills said.
Registration is at The Forks Market Plaza (6:30 p.m.) with the walk at 7:45 p.m. The fireworks go at 9:30 p.m.
MS BIKE TOUR
About 700 cyclists are expected to hit the road Saturday morning in Stonewall for a 170-kilometre trek across Manitoba’s prairie in the 25th anniversary MS Bike Tour.
The first day of the ride is 85 kilometres through Balmoral, Teulon, Dunnotar and Sandy Hook, before ending up at the Gimli Recreation Centre. They will head back Sunday along the same route to Stonewall, crossing the finish line some time before 3 p.m.
Cyclists of all ages raise a minimum of $300 in pledges. In its 24 years, more than 15,000 participants have cycled through wind, rain, and blistering heat to raise more than $6.8 million.
Back for the 25th year will be four riders who haven’t missed a single ride in the event’s history — Darlene Hnatyshyn and brothers John, Harold, and Albert Enns.
Every day in Canada, three more people are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
ATV RIDE FOR DAD
Stonewall is also the place to be Sept. 13 for ATV riders who want to hit the trails for a good cause.
The Manitoba ATV Ride for Dad raises awareness and funds for prostate cancer research.
The ride begins at the Stonewall Ag Grounds at 10:30 a.m. (registration and pancake breakfast 8:30-10 a.m.). For more details, contact Jim Backus at 204-330-3492.
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