Participants are challenged to raise critical funds and awareness in support of homeless youth. All participants are encouraged to fundraise with a goal of at least $500. Fundraising is made easy by way of a personal fundraising page on our website (pushforchangenanaimo.ca) that includes tools to reach out to supporters. We hope participants will approach the event with an open heart and mind, and a willingness to work with others so that all youth in Nanaimo will always have a place to sleep. On the day of the event, we hope participants will show up excited and ready for an experience they will not soon forget and will chronicle their walk on social media.

We ask each participant to try to raise $500.

Registration/sign-in for the event will open at 9:30 am at South Parkway Plaza in the southeast area of the parking lot (1275 Island Highway, east of Country Grocer). Activities get underway with an Indigenous welcoming and a brief explanation of what will occur throughout the day. Participants will receive a welcome package, tickets for hydration, high-visibility vests and information about the event. There are portable washrooms on site.

The walk will begin at 10:30 am sharp and should finish around 4 pm. We will provide refreshments, but we encourage participants to bring additional snacks, water and comfort items.

Safety is our first and foremost concern and RCMP, NYSA staff and contracted security personnel will be with participants throughout the journey to ensure safety.

Please try to have someone drop you off or take public transit to the event. (Contact us for a free bus pass for the day of the event.) We don’t want to fill the parking lots with participant’s vehicles for the entire day.

We suggest participants wear comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate layers of clothing and bring your smartphone (use of social media during the event is highly encouraged). Don’t forget to wear gloves if the weather is questionable. And don’t bring jewellery or other expensive items that may be tempted to go missing.

The best way to make donations is online at pushforchangenanaimo.ca.

Each participant has their own online fundraising page where they can direct their supporters to make a donation. The online system makes collecting donations easy, receipting instantaneous and goal tracking automatic.

Cash or cheque donations can be sent to:
Nanaimo Youth Services Association
ATTN: Push for Change
290 Bastion Street
Nanaimo, BC
V9R 4A3

Cheques should be made payable to Nanaimo Youth Services Association and you should include the name of the Push for Change participant that you wish to support.

Receipts for online donations will be sent to the donor at the time of donation by email. A formal CRA-approved receipt will be provided after the event (and before the end of the calendar year) for all donations where we have an actual mailing address. Cash and cheque donations will also be receiving a formal receipt which will also be mailed to the donor before year-end. If you didn’t provide your address and require a receipt, please contact the office with your mailing information.