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Altoona started, benefits from Y race

I read with dismay the comment of an unidentified Altoona City Council member, who asserted in a story in the Mirror on June 8 (“City looks to charge fees for events”) that the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA is a “Hollidaysburg organization” that ought to be charged under a proposed ordinance for use of the Heritage Plaza and Altoona’s roads during the Angie Gioiosa Fourth of July Race.

While it is understandable for the city to try to reduce costs that exceed its special events budget, I believe the Fourth of July Race should be exempt from the ordinance.

First, the Fourth of July Race itself is an Altoona event that was created by the Altoona Running Club and the Altoona YMCA. The Hollidaysburg Area YMCA only became involved with the race because the Altoona Y closed.

Under the Hollidaysburg YMCA’s leadership, the race has grown from a registration of 400 people to 1000 participants in the last several years. Many of the participants are residents of Altoona and many people travel to Altoona solely to participate in the challenging 15K distance.

The race is a great Altoona tradition that has lasted 44 years.

Second, as correctly noted later on in the article, the services provided by the Hollidaysburg Area YMCA are not limited to the Borough of Hollidaysburg.

Aside from the Fourth of July Race, Altoonans are members of the YMCA, participants in its race series and students in its preschool and daycare programs, not to mention employees and scholarship recipients.

Although the YMCA is located in Hollidaysburg and named after its location, the impact of its charitable works is felt all over the county.

I do not believe it would be fair to punish the YMCA for its stewardship of an event that was created by Altoona organizations, takes place in Altoona and brings people into the city for a positive reason based only upon its physical location.

Laura Burke

Hollidaysburg

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