Large turnout for “Dare 2B Challenged” race event at Holiday Beach

Holiday Beach which included going over a boardwalk.

“I had a baby seven months ago and I used to run. This is my first post baby run,” said Turnbull.

By Fred Groves

A total of 223 girls and women took part in this year’s Dare 2B challenged 5km walk, 5km run and 10km run at the Holiday Beach Conservation Authority

Sunday morning.

The weather was ideal and much better than the rainy conditions for the inaugural event held back in August 2022.

Dare 2B Challenged provides opportunities for girls and women to challenge themselves, evolve and experience a sense of belonging and well-being.

That was certainly the case for a couple of competitors from Essex, who along with a throng of supporters, pushed themselves to the limit.

“I’m doing the 5k walk. I’ve lost 100 pounds in the last year, and I can do this now,” said Amy Brett prior to the 9 a.m. start.

Brett and Julie Turnbull were both ready to tackle the picturesque course at

Memories of Yesterday...

Photos courtesy of the Marsh Historical Collection

80 Richmond Street Amherstburg

519-736-9191 • www.marshcollection.org

The purpose of Dare 2B Challenged is not only to support girls and women to exercise but to set difficult personal fitness goals and persevere through challenges while building confidence.

“I think it’s amazing. It gives women something to do for us. We do for everyone else all the time,” said Brett.

The registration fee for the event on Sunday was $50 and for those who did not want to run or walk, a hearty 90-minute outdoor fitness class was also available for the same price. Proceeds were going to a specific initiative.

Girls Organizing and Learning Sport G.O.A.L.S is a non-profit group that provides sports programs for girls aged 6-13 in underserviced environments.

“The funds that come from this is going to GOALS. We are going to be offering free after school programs,” explained Dare 2B Challenged organizer Barbara Anne Pollard.

Pollard went on to say that if young girls don’t get involved in sports at an early age, they probably will not take part in recreational activities at all.

These Bob-lo Island riders were (hopefully) enjoying the dizzying sensation of the Round-Up, an iconic favourite of visitors to the amusement park. Centrifugal force holds passengers in place as the ride raises to an almost vertical position. The ride made its debut in amusement parks in North America in the 1950s and is still in operation in some parks to this day, though sometimes with a different name. This evocative photo, taken in July of 1977, will surely bring back memories of the heyday of the island and the excitement of a family outing to the park for those lucky enough to have experienced it.