In years past, organizers at the Y would hold the Westmount Y Challenge, which consisted of 5- and 10-kilometre runs through local streets, as well as a much less grueling segment for the kids around the park, which eventually became the Fun Run.

For the past three years, the Y has been focusing on the Fun Run. Like its predecessor, it raises money to help less fortunate and special needs children attend the Westmount Y’s summer day camps.

Although billed as a running event, the Fun Run is more like a Fun Fair. From late morning through the afternoon, the kids and the parents had a chance to take part in a number of enjoyable and physically challenging activities, including Frisbee throwing and soccer ball kicking. The animators held a very lively warmup for the kids before the run.

“All of the money raised from this and all of our ongoing fundraising events at the Y allows us to provide children with special needs who come to our daycamps and after-school programs with a companion to work with them one-one-one,” said Gary White, executive director of the Westmount Y.

With the money raised, the Y can provide financial assistance to families that are financially disadvantaged and whose parents may not be able to afford the full cost of swimming lessons or a pre-school program at the Y.

While the Westmount Y is situated in an area that is perceived as well off, White noted that the Y’s clients come from a much wider territory. “Although we are situated in this community, we serve surrounding communities as well,” he said.

“We have kids come up from Little Burgundy, St. Henri. In terms of kids with special needs, over time we’ve developed a bit of a reputation for being able and willing to accommodate and provide companions for children with special needs.

“As such, we get calls from people on the South Shore who have kids who need to find an integrated environment or are having a hard time finding a day camp or an after-school program for children. We get calls from LaSalle, Verdun. The Y serves the Westmount community first and foremost, but we’re not bound by the borders of Westmount by any means.”

Photo: Martin C. Barry