It was a truly blessed day when more than 1300 souls converged at the Burnaby Central Park on August 24 for the 11th annual fund raiser, the ANCOP Walk 2014. Organizers for this year's much talked about event targeted a thousand participants and they were not disappointed by virtue of the huge turn-out of walkers from various disciplines, race, culture, influences and advocacies. Regardless of age, young and old responded to the call of reaching out to the less fortunate through child sponsorship and shelter provision. Perennial supporters Couples for Christ (CFC) and its family ministries were accompanied by an encouraging participation of businesses, associations, schools and families who have come to join the action in raising much needed funds to help the plight of the poor.
Participating CFC family ministries included the Singles for Christ, Youth for Christ, Kids for Christ, and Handmaids of the Lord which had the single largest delegation in the event. Long-time partner Holy Cross Regional High School, its faculty and students were also on hand to show their support. Grade 12 student and media sensation Courtney Barich, who after being deeply moved by what she witnessed during an earlier mission trip to the Philippines, turned in a check totalling over $15,000.00, an amount she raised through social media by foregoing her dream red chiffon gown and donning a burlap potato sack dress to her prom. The Tessa Beauchamp Foundation, a foundation created in honour of the Holy Cross high school senior who would have wanted to be part of another mission team but succumbed to cancer in 2012, sponsored three children in AVANAI in Metro Manila, an ANCOP community where the same foundation early this year donated a house.
By far it was the liveliest and most festive ANCOP Walk ever witnessed. The Aklanon Sto. Nino Association of BC Band marched and drummed entertaining live music for hours on end. The cast of Right Here Write Now, a musical play slated for November of this year, gave engaging sneak previews of the production that will have ANCOP as one of its beneficiaries. The Kids for Christ also performed a refreshing song and dance number to the delight of the audience.
The ANCOP Walk 2014 is a fund raising event held in Vancouver and in other key cities across the country. Rene Garrucho, ANCOP Coordinator for British Columbia, prayed that every step we take should be "an occasion to shed our weight of indifference to those who scavenge food in the dumps, to street children who are unable to go to school and to people without shelter from the destructive elements." He went further to petition that the event should "build our muscles of compassion for the poor, and of mercy on those who desire to get out of the cycle of poverty." In a statement, he looks forward to next year's ANCOP Walk as he envisions a "bigger and wider participation from CFC and non-CFC sectors, in line with the vision of ANCOP Canada for a stronger and more purposive work that would impact our global ANCOP work."
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| The ribbon, marking the starting point, lies in wait as everyone gets ready. |
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| Last minute registrants flock the registration booth manned by Handmaids of the Lord members. |
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| This year's ANCOP Walk aims to generate a wider participation from CFC and non-CFC members and also to promote the institution as a charity of choice. |
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| As the stage is set, so is ANCOP's vision of developing poverty-free and sustainable communities fashioned out of Christ's transforming love for the poor. |
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| With all systems giving a green light, emcees Rosette Correa and Rene Trinidad called the event to order. |
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| In his prayer, Rene Garrucho, ANCOP Coordinator for BC, quotes Blessed Mother Theresa that, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." |
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| Philippine Vice Consul General Rogelio Villanueva addresses the crowd as they "walk the talk" and make a difference in the lives of the poor. |
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| Participants and guests, sponsors and the media, gather for a short program prior to the Walk proper. |
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| Courtney Barich and the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation present their checks to ANCOP in support of sponsoring children to school. |
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| Warm-up exercises being led by the ladies of the Handmaids of the Lord. |
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| Dignitaries and guests surround the starting line as Philippine Vice Consul General Rogelio Villanueva cuts the ribbon. |
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| The 11th annual ANCOP Walk commences preceded by the Aklanon Sto. Nino Association of BC Band which played live music until all the walkers have returned. |
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| Kids for Christ perform a song and dance number. |
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| The cast of the musical production Right Here Write Now (in red shirts) gives a sneak peak of their play scheduled for November 16 and 29 at the River Rock and Bell Theaters, respectively. |
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| Jimmy Arzadon, CFC Vancouver Area head acknowledges everyone for the success of the event and announces, "Today what you did, in those small steps you did around the park, you have made a big difference in someone's life." He adds, "Just show up and things will happen. Indeed, today things happened." |
