Students trek 23,000 km and raise $23,880 for tuition assistance

The 26-day challenge was filled with fun prizes, weekend hikes, a field day, Golden Shoe Award and family barbecue.

Starting April 26, nearly 700 Nanaimo Christian School students set out on an ambitious 26-day challenge: to walk the distance from Nanaimo all the way to Cape Horn, Chile -- the southern tip of South America! 

What followed was an incredible month of walking, hiking, running, fundraising, and community spirit. Together, our students logged 23,000 kilometres and raised $23,880 for the Long-Term Tuition Assistance Fund. We wrapped up the Trek last Friday with a fun-filled field day, a Golden Shoe Award celebration, a family BBQ, and plenty of prizes to celebrate all that students accomplished.

From competitive Kindergarteners to energetic middle schoolers and determined high schoolers, the Trailblazer Trek united the entire NCS community through movement, healthy living, generosity, and purpose.

And today, there is so much to celebrate:

• 23,000 kilometres walked -- all the way to Cape Horn, Chile!

• $23,880 raised directly from the Trek

• Hundreds of students building healthy habits, serving others, and encouraging one another along the way

None of this would have been possible without the incredible help and generosity of grandparents, neighbours, parents, students, community members, and corporate sponsors who cheered our students on every step of the way. 

Many students also found creative ways to raise awareness and additional funds for the Trek. From waffle sales to recess kilometre challenges, students inspired our community with their energy, determination, and heart.

The $23,880 raised through the Trailblazer Trek will support NCS’s Long-Term Tuition Assistance Fund, helping make Christ-centred education more accessible for families in our community.

Stories That Inspired Us

One of the most meaningful parts of the Trek was hearing the stories behind the kilometres.

• A Grade 8 student made and sold waffles to middle and high school students, donating all the proceeds to the Tuition Assistance Fund.

• A Kindergarten student and her family walked or hiked together every single day, reminding us of the power of family connection and consistency.

• A Grade 2 student and her family passionately shared the purpose of the Trek with others, inspiring multiple donations.

• 95 people came out for NCS family weekend walks throughout May, including one Kindergarten student who hiked all the way to the top of Mount Benson.

These stories, and so many others, showed that Trailblazer Trek is about much more than kilometres. It’s an opportunity for students to grow in perseverance, creativity, generosity, and community.

The Golden Shoe Award

At the Trek closing ceremony, the Golden Shoe Award was presented to the student who consistently went above and beyond in inspiring the school community throughout the Trailblazer Trek. Teachers nominated 10 students who consistently demonstrated passion, creativity, hard work, leadership, and heart as they walked and raised funds. 

Congratulations to the 2026 Golden Shoe Award winner: Julius Ortiz (Gr 12)!

Julius logged hundreds of kilometres through running, walking, and basketball while balancing both school and club track. His positive attitude, discipline, and commitment to healthy living made him an inspiring example to students of all ages.

We also celebrate all of this year’s nominees:

• Mrs. Friend & Mrs. Gourlay’s Kindergarten classes - with a combined total of 1,213 kilometres, these Kindergarten classes worked hard as a team to build healthy habits and trek their kilometres together. Throughout Trek, the students walked a kilometre each day while singing and worshipping God together.

• Reese Ward (Gr 1) - Reese ran laps in her backyard, played baseball, skated twice a week, and chased after her new puppy to reach her 283 kilometres. Her commitment to tracking every kilometre reflected the same diligence, kindness, and consistency she shows in the classroom every day.

• Ellie Merriman (Gr 2) - Ellie demonstrated a genuine enthusiasm for outdoor activity and physical fitness throughout Trek. She consistently inspired and encouraged her peers to participate in running laps during recess and showed admirable dedication by running each day with enthusiasm.

• William Greenaway (Gr 3) - William was so determined to get in his kilometres that he woke up at 5:30 every morning throughout Trek to go running with his Dad. He achieved his 213 kilometres by walking, running, and tracking every step with his pedometer.

• Briggs Deibert (Gr 4) - Briggs enthusiastically went door to door telling neighbours about the Trek and inviting them to support the cause. In addition to fundraising, Briggs led his peers with excitement about running with a purpose -- running laps and playing tag simultaneously.

• Zachary Rempel (Gr 5) - Zachary was enthusiastic about participating daily in the Trek, always maintaining a positive attitude. He contributed at least 44 kilometres each week, for a total of 174.4 kilometres. He consistently looked for creative ways to add kilometres both during class activities and outside of school.

• Luke Micacchi (Gr 5) - Luke remained humble throughout Trek, never advertising to his peers how many kilometres he submitted (over 204 kilometres total). He worked hard to earn his kilometres outside of school and brings passion to everything he plays, always bringing leadership, teamwork, and fair play to every activity.

• Sierra Gain (Gr 9) - As an avid dancer with a very busy dance competition season, Sierra logged more than 100 kilometres over just two weekends. She did all her kilometres while performing in the school's musical production of Fiddler on the Roof. Even with her busy schedule, she maintained a positive attitude and found ways to help out around school, including managing one of the photo booths at Grandfriends' Day.

• Gavin Deibert (Gr 12) - During Trek, Gavin completed the West Coast Trail in 4 nights! Reflecting on his experience, Gavin shared: "Finishing the West Coast Trail meant a lot to me because I knew how much effort it took to get through all the difficult moments where I just wanted to stop. It showed me that I can handle difficult situations better than I sometimes think, and it helped me appreciate the beauty of God's creation even more."

More Than a Fundraiser

The impact of the Trailblazer Trek goes far beyond dollars raised.

Throughout the month, students challenged themselves physically, spent time outdoors, connected with friends and family, and experienced the joy of working toward something bigger than themselves.

Families, friends, and other supporters didn’t just donate, you helped students grow, explore, and experience God’s creation in meaningful ways.

As we celebrate the success of this year’s Trek, we are deeply grateful for every person who supported, donated, encouraged, walked, ran, or volunteered along the way.

A special thank you to our corporate sponsor, R+Co Plumbing, for their generous support.

Thanks also to our prize and BBQ donors: Country Grocer, Quality Food, Dairy Queen (at Country Club), InflataFun, and Cha Time. Your generosity helped keep our students motivated and excited throughout the Trek.

While the Trek has come to an end, the mission continues. Donations toward our $500,000 Long-Term Tuition Assistance Fund goal can still be made here.

Thank you, Trailblazers. Every step made a difference.