Chris Raduy, a 15-year-old alpine ski racer from Qualicum Beach, participated in the second annual Chairlift to Success event and raised more than $2,500 for the Vancouver Island Mountain Sports Society (VIMSS) last weekend.
Raduy volunteered his entire day to ski for 12 hours on March 25 at Mount Washington to help benefit other aspiring alpine athletes.
“Chris skied from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on a beautiful sunny day and many people came out to support him,” said Paul Francisty, a VIMSS Board Member. “This fundraising event was started last year with Spencer Hay spearheading the whole thing and he set the bar high.”
When Hay moved away for university studies this year he suggested that other athletes could carry the torch, Francisty said. Raduy accepted the challenge and plans to pass the torch onto another athlete next year.
Raduy is currently training in the U16 Ski Alpine Racing Program and is a former winner of Mount Washington Ski Club’s most improved racer award for the 2014/15 season. He knows first-hand there are significant costs involved with ski racing as the team must travel off the Island often to train and compete.
He is a current recipient of a VIMSS grant helping to offset some of his travel costs and is also learning the benefits of community charity work.
“Thank you to everyone who supported me and donated to this event. It was a long day but the weather was great and so was the skiing,” said Raduy.
Vancouver Island alpine athletes can apply for a grant from VIMSS each year through the online applications form found at vimountaincentre.com. There are many alpine sports that qualify for VIMSS grants including alpine ski/snowboard racing, freestyle skiing/boarding, biathlon, cross country skiing and downhill mountain biking.
VIMSS operates the non-profit Vancouver Island Mountain Centre (VIMC) which offers a community venue for meetings, programming, team building, along with accommodations for up to 40 people, full kitchen and dining facilities, amazing views of Mt. Albert Edward, plus a Fitness Centre. The Mountain Centre is open year round and is located at Mount Washington at the end of Nordic Road across from Raven Lodge and Strathcona Park’s Paradise Meadows. Visit vimountaincentre.com for additional information.
— Submitted by VIMC