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Fundraiser aims to help pair of Orillia women reach their goals

Katelyn Ayers has Olympic aspirations, while Ella Black has qualified for enrichment program; Second day of mini-putt fundraiser goes Sunday

With Tiger Woods’ surprise Augusta, Georgia victory still fresh in many minds, an Orillia healthcare centre is doing its best Masters’ impression this weekend to raise funds for two young women’s extracurricular activities.

Andrew Westelaken and Deborah Collins have opened the doors of Synergy Healthcare for those wishing to play the indoor, 18-hole miniature golf course that’s the creation of area resident Paul Day.

Funds raised will go toward helping middle-distance runner Katelyn Ayers in her quest to get to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics along with Orillia Secondary School student Ella Black attend SHAD, a summer enrichment program for high school students that costs an estimated $5,700 to attend.

Armed with putters, would-be duffers roamed from room to room of the Front Street facility to play a replica creation of the legendary course.

“The community’s just been so wonderful,” said Black’s mother Sarah Carter, who works at Synergy as a registered massage therapist.

“We’re just so grateful and Synergy’s very kind to do this.”

Black said she’s really excited to be chosen from the nearly 3,000 students who apply each year for the program.

“I feel like I’ll learn a lot,” said Black, who loves theatre, writing and hopes to one day study psychology.

During the month-long initiative, the 16-year-old will attend a number of different workshops and lectures while staying at Ryerson University in Toronto.

“It’s the kind of program that should open up a lot of doors,” said Black, who last summer traveled to Kenya to help build a teachers’ residence.

“We get a main question when we get there (at SHAD) and it’s up to us to work together to solve the problem.”

Day, who noted they hope to raise between $400 and $500 each day, said he was more than happy to loan out his replica course for the fundraiser that continues Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and costs $20 to play.

“I’m a patient of Andrew’s and we’ve become good friends,” he said. “I have the course and I offered to do something to help. Maybe, next year we’ll have nicer weather so we can have something outside to draw people in.”

While Ayers, 24, is in Colorado this weekend working on altitude training, her mom, Jackie Ayers, said the family’s grateful for the support that comes after her daughter decided to switch to part-time work in January so she could devote more time towards training in her two running disciplines: The 1,500-metre and 3,000-metre steeplechase races.

“After Colorado, she’s heading to California for a race in Palo Alto,” Ayers said. “She’s done very well in the last few years and is now carded with Athletics Canada. Every bit of cash helps out.”

During last year’s Canadian Track and Field Championships, the former Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute student raced to a bronze medal in the 1,500-metre competition and finished fifth in the 3,000-metre steeplechase even though it was just the second time she had ever competed in the grueling race that includes hurdles and water pits.


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Andrew Philips

About the Author: Andrew Philips

Editor Andrew Philips is a multiple award-winning journalist whose writing has appeared in some of the country’s most respected news outlets. Originally from Midland, Philips returned to the area from Québec City a decade ago.
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