Lots of happy faces at the YMCA Slip N Slide on University Way Saturday. Photos 250 News

Prince George, B.C. – “Anybody who’s not camping is here.”  The reaction of organizers to the thousands of people who turned out for the YMCA/Fun City Sliders Slip N Slide on University Way hill on Saturday.

Stephanie Mikalishen, Coordinator of Philanthropic Development and Camp Programs at the YMCA of North BC, was thrilled with the turnout and the fact pretty well everyone there was having a blast.  “Nothing but happy faces,” she said.

There was a delay in getting the event going at the scheduled 10 am start time but Mikalishen says everyone who had purchased tickets was accommodated and got to ride the 1,000-foot slide down the hill.  University Way was closed to traffic from 5 am to 10 pm Saturday, with the Slip N Slide running until 6 pm.

Of course anything that goes down must come up, at least if you want another slide.

The event is a fundraiser with proceeds going to the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign which helps low income families access the Y’s programs.  $15 bought you one slide, you got three runs for $45 and there was unlimited sliding over a 4-hour period for $60.

As well vendors on site were contributing to the Strong Kids Campaign, the Y senior leadership group set up a 50/50 draw, a bag drop allowed people to check in items while sliding and a 5:30 pm Duck Drop was organized jointly by the United Way and the Y.  500 ducks for sale at $5 a piece.  They’re let go down the slide with the winning duck and its owner winning the grand prize donated by Canadian Tire.  Fifty percent of the proceeds from the duck race go to the Y, the other half to the United Way.

People kept coming as the day went on, looking for some fun in the summertime.

The Y was hoping to raise $25,000 through the giant water slide and should have a total from all of the various fundraising sources in the coming week.

Mikalishen had nothing but praise for the 150 volunteers, comprised of Y members and people from the community, who helped put on the sizeable event.

Asked if we might see a Slip N Slide again in the future she said “absolutely I’d do it again.”