Walk N' Roll( for Refugees) is Here to Stay

Walk N' Roll for Refugees volunteers participate in 2021's fundraiser where they raised close to $4,000 in support of the Anglican United Refugee Alliance. 

A bunch of people from Trenton United Church, our congregational family, will be involved again this year in an event called Walk N’ Roll, a fundraiser this coming Saturday for refugees under the auspices of both the Anglican and United churches in Canada. Our son, Isaac, is the Trenton UC minister and he and his family will be participants again this year. Rebekah, our daughter-in-law has been quite involved in the organization of the event and spoke to the Belleville Intelligencer recently. 

We're glad we can make a financial contribution to an organization bringing Afghans to Canada because of the humanitarian crisis in that country. I also feel strongly that our government has failed people who supported our troops during their years in Afghanistan and were left behind in a highly dangerous environment. 

Here is a portion of the Intelligencer interview with Rebekah. The forecast for the event is promising!

Community members are invited to walk, cycle, jog or roll this month in support of refugees entering Canada — with a focus on Syria and Afghanistan.

 “It’s a fundraiser to raise money for an NGO called the Anglican United Refugee Alliance (AURA),” explained Rebekah Kipp, an organizer for the region’s event. “It’s a family friendly event. We have lots of young people and youth who are participating with their parents.”

The teams of participants raise funds through sponsors. Those who wish to participate or help sponsor a team are advised to contact Kipp directly at rebekah.kipp@gmail.com or can donate to the team as a whole at bit.ly/Quinte_West. On the walk day, the team plans meet at the Quinte West Public Library as they begin their two–and-a-half hour journey through the community.

Last year’s event raised close to $4,000 in support of the NGO, Kipp explained that they hope to either match or beat that number come Sept. 24.

While many refugees are supported by the Anglican United Refugee Alliance, those coming from Ukraine can not be supported by the NGO due to legal restrictions. Kipp explained that refugees coming into Canada are not designated as UN sponsored refugees in the same way that refugees from other countries are. AURA is only allowed to assist refugees and has their hands tied due to the Canadian government designating the program to help Ukrainians in a different way and has not made them as refugees.

“I think everybody who is part of this NGO is very much aware of a situation in Ukraine, and is very supportive, of course, of any families who are coming to Canada,” said Kipp.