The annual Prairie Women On Snowmobiles (PWOS) tour of Saskatchewan made a stop in the city last week having coffee hosted at the Tourism Yorkton office.
Local contact Jolene Dana Kindiak said ten core riders and two leaders were in Yorkton as part of the ride.
There were two major donations from the Yorkton Sno-riders $500.00 and from Melville $2500.00, she said.
"I would like to add that the Yorkton Sno-Riders are a big support of Prairie Women in Yorkton, from volunteering to be leaders to making sure the trails are groomed. They are always willing to help out where needed," said Kindiak.
"Among the delegates that attended were Councillor Ross Fisher, MLA Greg Ottenbreit, and the manager of the Parkland Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society Gloria Diliberto," she added.
"Rhein District Lions Club and Robin's Donuts of Yorkton donated the refreshments and the Yorkton Tourism Center was a gracious host."
Kindiak said she hoped the ride will continue because it does such a good job of raising dollars and awareness, and that it will be supported locally.
"I hope that Yorkton will continue to support Prairie Women on Snowmobiles throughout the years and make an effort to come out to the fundraisers, lunches, suppers and coffee stops like we had in Yorkton to see what PWOS is all about," she said. "It is truly breathtaking to see the ladies ride into Yorkton and have all their supporters gathered around applauding their arrival.
"These ladies are heroes. Some have battled breast cancer, some have family members that have had breast cancer or other cancers or some are riding in support or memory of a friend, whatever it may be there is a reason they are riding, that combined with snowmobiling, makes for quite a statement!
The PWOS "is a non-profit organization whose annual Missions are provincial awareness events that are designed to focus attention on breast cancer and the recreation of snowmobiling as well as raise the much-needed funds for breast cancer research," detailed the group's website. "PWOS has contributed 100 per cent of the funds raised in the past 10 Missions for research raising more than $1.4 million dollars to-date.
"Each Mission consists of a group of 10 women volunteer snowmobilers who travel across Saskatchewan , passing through many cities and towns in eight days and covering approximately 1800 kilometres."
PWOS also showcase the recreation of snowmobiling and aid the economic impact and winter tourism potential of this recreation.
The website explained PWOS "was formed when two friends, one a breast cancer survivor, asked her friend to snowmobile across Saskatchewan to raise funds for breast cancer research. Together the two planned, organized and implemented PWOS. The goal since conception is to have this Mission go across Saskatchewan each and every year to raise the funding for breast cancer research."
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women.
To make a donation you may call PWOS' toll-free number 1-877-977-HOPE (4673).
