Ken Opaleke is a hero in the City of Winnipeg.
Not in the sense of a police officer who keeps us safe, or a person who rescues another from drowning. But the kind of hero who spends 23 years helping kids in his neighbourhood an hour at a time.
Opaleke is the director of West Broadway Youth Outreach, an organization that aims to help kids reach their potential. As he said on the Morning News, “A kid’s potential is just beyond infinity.”
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Through homework club and free summer programs, running club and career mentoring, WBYO exposes kids to a variety of activities and none of the cost. Because who knows what a child will gravitate to and be inspired to do?
Ken does like to say “we have our first doctor!”— the first child to go through WBYO on to medical school and into practice. He’s also careful (and correct) to mention that though he is the director, none of this would be done without a long list of volunteers and donators.
I was honoured to have Ken on the Morning News to promote this Sunday’s 5-ish Fun Run. It’s a terrific run down Wolseley Avenue, through Omand’s Creek and back down Wellington Crescent. My wife and I have done the run the last two years — our two border collies dragging us the whole 5+ kilometres. It feels good to give a little time and a little money to support someone willing to do so much.
I don’t give as much of my time to causes as I would like. So I’m pleased that through the Morning News we can introduce you to heroes who are giving back. Heroes like Ken.
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