The 24-hour Blue Mountain charity relay (24H Blue MTN) event welcomed all level of skiers and snowboarders to join in teams and spend 24 hours taking turns on the Smart Alec run.
The event, which took place from noon on Feb. 25 to noon on Feb. 26 at Blue Mountain raised about $170,000, according to early estimates from organizers. Each participating team collected pledges and donations for the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation and for Special Olympics Ontario's local programs. This was the fifth year for the event, which went on hiatus during the pandemic.
The event began with an opening ceremony led by a parade of Special Olympic athletes and four-time Olympian Brian Stemmle. The parade continued as the event torch is escorted to the Blue Mountain Village Square and accompanied by the Beaver Valley Pipes and Drums band. After words from dignitaries and representatives of both the hospital and Special Olympics, there was a 100-metre dash to the chairlift for the Special Olympics and the relay event begins.
Enjoy these photos from the event.
Three-year-old Jax Davenport running with her Dad. Jax was born with a heart condition called Supraventricular Tachycardia. She and her family were part of a relay team called Jax Shreds it Forward, which raised funds for the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, where Jax receives emergency health-care. . Nathan Bedard for CollingwoodToday
