Motorcycle enthusiasts gathered for what was billed as “a great cause” at the second annual RHF Bike Rally in Stenen on June 23, 24 and 25.
Dawson and Kristen Ramsay of Pelly, who are the owners of a chain of gyms called Ramsay Health and Fitness (RHF), were the organizers of the event. The couple has gym locations in Pelly, Preeceville, Canora and Yorkton and in Dauphin and Roblin, Man.
Dawson grew up as a biker and he says the rally combined his three passions: his gyms, riding his bike, and giving. He said he thought this would be a great way to help raise money for local causes and give back to the communities in which they operate their business.
The Bike Rally kicked off the weekend utilizing the campgrounds and Rawhides restaurant to accommodate its guests with the gates opening at 2 p.m. on June 23. A burnout pit was open all weekend at the campground and a bonfire was lit on both Friday and Saturday.
Bus transportation was made available to and from the campgrounds to Rawhides throughout the weekend as well.
On Friday night Frannie Klein, a Canadian singer/songwriter of Winnipeg performed at Rawhides. A 50/50 draw was held in which $215 was raised for the Pelly Child Care Centre. That money has been donated by the daycare to Della Clark of Sturgis, one of Rawhides’ employees who recently had to undergo surgery to remove a brain tumour.
Saturday was a full day, starting with an off-the-menu breakfast at Rawhides. Poker hands were available all weekend with each participant receiving his or her first card at the gates.
The winner of the poker hand at the end of the event was Kalvin Kreshewski of Rossburn, Man. who graciously donated his half of the winnings back to help RHF raise $500 for the Norquay School gym floor project.
The bike rodeo and games were held at the campground starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday with different events including: weiny bite, plank ride, keg push, slow race, bean bag toss, water balloon toss and tire flip.
Non-bike games followed with beer pong, balloon pump, plank walk, a three-legged race, a toilet paper and plunger transfer and an egg transfer race. The 50/50 on Saturday raised $290 with the proceeds being donated to eight-year-old Miah Ricard of Yorkton, who has scoliosis with many procedures to endure in the future.
Buffet supper tickets were sold at Rawhides in the evening with music by Ferny Turnbull, of Calgary following. A bike draw was done at 10 p.m. on Saturday with proceeds going to Donations for Serenity. Serenity Fabrick is a girl from Yorkton who has been battling ovarian cancer since her diagnosis in 2016.
The winner of the 1973 motorcycle was Tanis Gaudry of Yorkton. Funds were also raised through a Bonny and Clyde getaway package which included Dauphin CountryFest tickets that the winner Laurie Villeneuve of Pelly donated back to be raffled off, raising a total of $350 for Della Clark.
A silent auction was held as well, raising $505 for Sophia Dubasoff-Hvidston of Canora, a five-year-old fighting a leukemia diagnosis.
The second annual RHF Bike Rally had tiers of sponsors with the platinum sponsors being: Art Wierenga of Chrome Oil Consulting, Carole Komistek, an Igalen and Emulin Distributor, Rawhides and Chris Federowich of Federowich Farms.
Gold sponsors were: Jason Bednarek with Hawker Steel Products, and 2B Land and Cattle Co., while the silver sponsors included: Millers Agencies, Norquay Co-op, Community Insurance Co., Andrew and Michelle Seversen of MAJR T Farms, Prairie Soil Services, RE/MAX Guardian Commercial, Extravadance, Home Hardware Preeceville and the Whistle Stop restaurant in Pelly.
The bronze sponsors were: Norquay Agencies and Aussie’s Shoe Repair.
The Kalvin and Jennifer Kreshewski family farm also donated a whole pig that was wrapped by donation by the Meat Man of Oakburn, Man. RHF will be donating a quarter of the pig to each of the four families of Sophia, Della, Miah and Serenity. There were many more sponsors who donated many items that supported the event.
After a busy Saturday at the RHF Bike Rally it was Sunday Funday, as Ramsay’s called it: a day to wrap things up and start the bikes up to make their trips home after a generous and fun weekend.
“We will have the bike rally again next year,” Dawson said. “(It will be) the July 7 weekend with a poker run. (It will be) bigger and better at the one-and-only Rawhides.”
