Although organizers of the 11th annual Old Dog Run were still counting pledges and adding up receipts last week, indications are that at least $10,000 was raised for equipment needed by the Kamsack fire department.
“We’re still counting,” said Tom Campbell, who with Joe Kozakewich had originated the Run comprised of cyclists aged at least 50 years, who peddle the 168 kilometres from Kamsack to Yorkton and back.
People often make donations to the cause following the Run, Campbell said.
“We’re quite happy,” he said of the Run which was held on August 12.
“We’re really proud of the community,” he said, adding that although the cyclists spearhead the project, it is the community that makes the donations to the charities selected.
“We’re blessed with support from the community and that’s what makes the Run what it is,” he said. “We’re very pleased and we thank everyone who supports us.
“These old dogs were pretty tired when we returned this time,” he said. “We had a good time, as usual, but it was harder than usual. We like to have the wind at our backs.”
Campbell explained that this year the cyclists had to bike into a wind as they went from Canora to Yorkton, and then the wind changed direction so that they were heading into it again, going from Yorkton to Wroxton, resulting in a later-than-normal arrival back in Kamsack.
While normally, they would leave Kamsack around 6 a.m. and return about 12 hours later, this year they arrived in Kamsack about an hour later than normal.
But again, as has been the case in all the previous rides, everyone who left Kamsack, finished the Run.
The Run has been attracting around 15 riders each year, and one year the number reached 21, but this year only 10 cyclists participated.
Three or four riders who had expected to participate this year, had to cancel at the last minute, Campbell said.
This year the cyclists ranged in age from 51 to 65 years, but in the past participants were into their 70s and one rider was 82 years.
Joe and Debbie Kozakewich do most of the behind-the-scenes work, including contacting former riders and sponsors, he said, commending them and the staff of Quality Tire in Yorkton which provides a support vehicle for the Run and where riders receive lunch.
Campbell acknowledged Rob Ritchie and PetroCan which is the Run’s new corporate sponsor; Duck Mountain Ambulance Care which provides an ambulance to accompany the cyclists, and Wayne Sas at Sas-Kam Sportsman where the new T-shirts were obtained.
“It looks good on the highway with the cyclists all wearing the same T-shirts,” he said.
Explaining that organizers of the Run have been collecting pledges and donations for Kamsack charities ever since the third Run, Campbell said that to date about $120,000 has been raised.
Benefitting from the annual Run were: Eaglestone Lodge, the Playhouse projector project, the piano project, the Victoria School playground, the Assiniboine Valley Health Centre (twice), the nursing home Horizon Project, and this year the firefighters.
The Old Dog Run is held on the first Saturday following the August long weekend and Campbell and Kozakewich encourage everyone over 50 years of age to consider accompanying them at the 12th annual Run next year.
