Free Fun Day a hit in New Westminster thanks to 'amazing' teenage creator

Hundreds of children are expected to gather in New Westminster's Moody Park from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday for the third annual Fun Day, which features a playground, waterpark, henna and hair braiding stations and a Tumblebus.

"It's like a regular school bus that has a trampoline and a zip line that connects to a pool of balls so you can like jump in and have fun," says 13-year-old Nur Elmasri, the boy behind the popular event.

Elmasri says he was inspired the create Fun Day when he was just 11 years old, after seeing how some kids' families couldn't afford to send them to camp.

"It started when I started going out with my family to Mexico and going out," said Elmasri.

"When I came back I saw that not many kids that I know, they don't do anything, either low income or, they just play outside, they don't do anything as much. 

"So I decided to make everyone feel happy and, one day in a year, have a time that they can actually go out and have fun."

Whitecaps tickets up for grabs

Some 500 children attended Fun Day last year. 

Elmasri says this year his goal is to see 1,000 children come out to enjoy the activities, food and prizes he's almost single-handedly organized, through networking, finding sponsors and getting funding from a Neighbourhood Small Grant.

"I got many contacts from friends and family so I just called or emailed them and they agreed to help me and give me some donations," he said.

He's even gathered gifts and prizes to give away, such as hats signed by the BC Lions and tickets to upcoming Whitecaps games.

'I wanna be like you'

It's an event Elmasri has enjoyed organizing for the community every year.

"The most reaction that I got from one of the children was, 'I wanna be like you one day, and you are amazing,' and other parents said they want to help me. They think that this is amazing to help all the children because that parent couldn't afford to go somewhere with his child.

"That means a lot because I worked half the year trying to make this all work. From hearing those comments I know that it did work out and it affected strongly to the community."

Seeking a successor

This year's Fun Day is especially meaningful for Elmasri — the event will be his last, as his family is moving to Ontario in a few days.

Elmasri says he's looking for a replacement willing to organize the event from now on.

As for the qualities he's looking for in a successor?

"They should be interested and willing to help as many children as they can and they should help others before themselves and treat everyone the same."

As for Elmasri, he says this isn't the end of his effort to bring kids some fun. Watch out Ontario. He's coming for you.

To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled Fun Day's 13-year-old organizer