The Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association is hoping to raise just under $1,000 to maintain the ice at Inks Lake this winter.

Co-founder Nancy Bepple says the goal is to have that money ahead of the upcoming Family Day Long weekend, Feb. 13 to Feb. 15.

“We’ve been really successful so far. We’ve had some people come forward to donate money. We also had one of the local rental shops give us a discount on a pump,” she told NL News. “We want to have the best ice possible for the Family Day weekend so we need that pump, we need some hose, and we’re building a mini-Zamboni just so we have excellent ice.”

With many events and gatherings cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions, Bepple says there have been a number of people who have been wanting to get out skating outdoors this winter which led to the 400-metre oval being built in about three hours on Jan. 30.

“Inks Lake is a perfect place for an outdoor track. Especially during COVID, it’s great to have places people can get out and have fun safely,” Bepple said. “We had over 100 people on Sunday at Inks Lake Oval, and fewer than that on Saturday.”

“We’re gearing up to have the ice in top shape for this Family Day Weekend and all the way to the end of February as we figure the weather will stay cold.”

“This year we are going to rent a pump because we are just trying to figure out how to best do things but we are already making plans for next year. The collaboration between Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association and the Kamloops Long Blades has been fantastic and we think we could do it again.”

Added Sandi Vyse, the head coach of the Kamloops Long Blades, “the kids had ownership in creating the oval, and it was extra awesome that the kids were part of creating something so big and so great.”

As of publishing, the fundraiser had raised $295 of its $950 goal. You can find it here.

(Photo via Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association)

Thank you to @warnerrentals who has come on board as a sponsor, to help make it possible for #Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association to rent a pump for flooding the Inks Lake Oval. Looking forward to great skating! pic.twitter.com/3FNy85RJYQ

— Nancy Bepple (@NancyBepple) February 10, 2021