Last year's marathon raised $32,000 for the Eau Claire YMCA. The profits of this year's race will again go to the Eau Claire YMCA.

The Eau Claire YMCA has been serving Western Wisconsin for 127 years. The first Eau Claire YMCA owned building was opened in 1912 on the site where the US Bank Drive-In is currently located. That facility, which included a pool, a gym and sleeping rooms served the community well until 1962 when the current Eau Claire YMCA was opened. When the existing Eau Claire YMCA opened, it included a pool, gym, theatre, and teen area. Additions were made in 1972 and 1978 that added racquetball courts, another pool and two more gyms. During the 1980’s, the building across the street was purchased which currently house a kids center known as the Clubhouse and our aerobic dance area.

The current Eau Claire YMCA building is now facing some major issues. The facility is not handicapped accessible, all the mechanical and electrical systems are at least 30 years old, and most areas have been retrofitted to serve functions for which they were not intended.

After looking at many options, the YMCA Board of Directors has decided to pursue having a new state-of-the-art facility built on the corner of Menomonie Street and Clairemont Avenue. The new Eau Claire YMCA would have approximately 130,000 square feet of accessible space, including three full size gym floors, two pools, as well as all the other amenities that members have grown to love.

In addition, the vision for a new building is to make it more than just a YMCA. Eau Claire YMCA leaders are negotiating to include other non-profit organizations with similar missions in order to truly make this a community center. It is hoped that fundraising over the next two and a half years will be successful and that a new YMCA will open in 2012.