Every October, the York University Retirees Association (YURA) gathers for their annual Charity Challenge, an event dedicated to supporting students. This year’s five-kilometre walk, held on the Keele campus in conjunction with the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon’s Charity Challenge, raised over $15,000. The funds will help to alleviate food insecurity among university students.
“YURA’s goal this year has been to raise funds to assist the [York Federation of Students’] Food Support Centre and the student food bank at the Glendon campus, as well as the ‘open fridge’ and grocery card programs,” share YURA members-at-large Debbie Hansen and Sheila Forshaw, who also worked in the Division of Students prior to retirement.
YURA is a network of about 450 members, including retired faculty, staff, and managers, all of whom are volunteering with the organization to remain in contact with the university and one another. For Hansen and Forshaw, this connection has allowed them to continue their lifelong commitment to supporting the university’s students. As they have shared with Excalibur, “In retirement, joining [YURA] allowed them to continue that support alongside a community of like-minded university retirees.”
Now in its sixth year, the Charity Challenge has become a key event for YURA. From 2019 to 2022, fundraising efforts established an endowment that now provides “three graduate and five undergraduate awards annually,” according to Forshaw. This ensures lasting support for future students.
Reflecting on this year’s Charity Challenge, Forshaw and Hansen express their gratitude: “The Charity Challenge was a great success. YURA walkers raised more than $15,000 from donations by retirees, friends, family, and former colleagues.
“Holding this event on campus not only raises funds, but also helps raise awareness about food insecurity among students and brings attention to the retirees’ ongoing efforts to help,” they share.
Participation in the Charity Challenge is open to everyone, and YURA encourages those interested to get involved. “We encourage everyone to learn more about the annual event and ways to get involved,” says Hansen, directing anyone interested to check out the YURA website for more information on their many student support initiatives.
YURA remains committed to strengthening its impact in the York community. With each passing year, the Charity Challenge and YURA’s other fundraising efforts continue to grow, driven by the collective passion of retirees dedicated to making a lasting difference in the lives of students.
