In support of The University of Victoria’s United Way Campaign, the Engineering Students Society (ESS) will have teams of students push a gutted Volkswagen Beetle around Ring Road from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 18 to raise money for the charity.
Teams won’t be pushing this specific Beetle, but something sort of like it. Photo by Robert Couse-Baker via Wikimedia Commons.
“The Engineering Students’ Society does a charity event every term,” says ESS President Tim Erdmer. “This year we did two in the spring and one in the summer. So we’ve already raised about $6 000 for different charities this year.”
Last year, the Bug Push raised $1 758 through registrations and pledges. The ESS is asking for a minimum $20 entry fee for teams to enter the marathon, and is donating $500 itself, which they budget for every year.
“You sign up as a team and start raising pledge money for your team,” Erdmer says. “I think we’re going to have prizes for the team that raises the most money, (and) prizes for the team with the best time.” Teams can be as few as one person, and up to five including a driver.
“It’s approximately 1.8 kilometres around the Ring, so people can do that pretty quick. There’s tricks to where you can coast on the road and stuff like that.” Each team pushes the Bug for a half-hour time slot.
The United Way Greater Victoria funds multiple community programs which provide support for children, people facing poverty, and people living with mental health challenges.
So far, the campaign has raised over $200 000 of its $246 000 goal.
To enter the Bug Push, teams can contact the ESS at esschar@uvic.ca or 250-721-8822. The ESS will also be offering pancakes and hot dogs by donation.
