For the last two years, an incredible group of athletes, led by Baylea Wilkins Fitness, have
delivered outstanding fundraising results for KidSport Greater Victoria – and they are back at it this weekend! Led by Baylea Wilkins and Michelle Maynard, Burpees for Charity kicked off in the summer of 2021, and has been going strong ever since. The group has raised a record-setting $285,000 to support KidSport Greater Victoria’s work through the first two years of the project, and aims to add a further $125,000 to that total with this year’s event.
Funds raised support KidSport Greater Victoria’s core work: helping local kids in financial need to access the lifelong benefits of sport. KidSport Greater Victoria provides up to $700 per qualifying child per year, to participate in a season of sport of their choice, within any of nearly 200 eligible local sport organizations.
With over 130 participants signed up to go for 500+ Burpees each on July 22, both the anticipation and momentum around the event are growing. This year’s event will for the first time take place at Royal Athletic Park, and event organizers are thrilled to have the support of the HarbourCats behind this year’s effort – Burpees for Charity 2023 will take place in conjunction with the HarbourCats Saturday evening game against the Coquitlam Angels.
Baylea Wilkins explains “Burpees for Charity is back to help get even more kids off the sidelines and into sport! Michelle and I are so passionate about this cause – motivated by our own personal sports journeys growing up and the evidence we see every day with our clients of the difference lifelong activity can make for us all! We are thrilled to again be able help more kids connect with sport through Burpees for Charity and KidSport Greater Victoria’s work.”
Jill Shaw, Executive Director at KidSport Greater Victoria, adds “While we have seen demand for our support increase substantially in 2021 and 2022, the need for KidSport Greater Victoria’s help this year has been a surprise. We are seeing far greater need through the first half of 2023 than even prior to the pandemic. More and more children and youth are ready to return to sport after a few quiet years, many young children are keen to begin their experiences with organized sport, and local families are facing greater-than-ever financial strain. Burpees for Charity has been a tremendous contributor to our
organization since 2021, and we are enormously grateful to Baylea and Michelle, event sponsors and supporters, and to all of the project’s participants and fundraisers.”
Burpees for Charity 2023 is happening Saturday, July 22 at Royal Athletic Park. Start time 6:00pm.
For more information, please contact: Baylea Wilkins, Founder, Burpees for Charity; Owner, Baylea Wilkins Fitness
