Image Credit: Contributed / Kamloops Symphony

By Jill Sperling

Running the Symphony

Kamloops Symphony running with new fundraising idea

Aug 6, 2020 | 3:38 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Symphony is one of many local organizations struggling under the global pandemic.

Without the ability to host concerts and sell tickets, which account for approximately 30 per cent of the symphony’s annual earned revenue, the future has become less certain.

Kamloops Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Daniel Mills is hoping to give the symphony a financial boost through a fundraiser called ‘Running the Symphony.’

He plans to run every road in Kamloops while collecting support from the community.

“I will be doing my first official run starting on Friday, August 14 at 7 p.m.,” Mills said. “We’re starting from Westsyde Secondary School, which is actually the site of the very first orchestra rehearsal of the Kamloops Symphony ever in 1976.”

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Mills, who is an amateur endurance runner, says he was looking for a new challenge after the races he had signed up for in the community were cancelled. And, this will be quite the challenge.

“Particularly certain neighbourhoods and roads are going to be more challenging than others,” he said with a chuckle, “particularly Rose Hill Road specifically and some of the Sahali and Aberdeen and Barnhartvale (roads) I expect to be quite challenging.”

Mills is committing to running at least three times a week, and expects to finish sometime in the spring. He hopes the fundraiser will bring in at least $15,000 for the Kamloops Symphony.

“We’re trying to make sure we can still support the musicians as much as possible, so that’s really where the impetus of this fundraising campaign comes in.”

Donations can be made online or by phone at 250-372-5000. Because the Kamloops Symphony is a registered charity, all donations will be eligible for a tax receipt.

The first $5,000 in donations by first-time donors will be matched by one of the symphony’s patrons, Rae Nixon.