It was a beautiful morning for a snowmobile ride. Bright colours of combined gear and sled all descended upon the race track in front of the Saskabilities office in Yorkton, to the tune of well over 150 riders. Together, the massive fundraiser brought an equally massive amount of funds to a good cause: in this particular case, $113 680. The funds, raised for Easter Seals, will go towards the needs of people with disabilities, helping to finance resources to improve quality of life.
One of the major programs the funds will go toward is Camp Easter Seal. The fully accessible camp is meant to provide a fun atmosphere for everyone that goes, with no barriers. It helps promote self confidence and independence, but more importantly, it allows kids to simply be kids, without having to worry about the day to day problems that can occur while navigating environments that aren't built to handle the unique physical needs some individuals have to cope with.
“We are thrilled about the support we received this again year from the 156 snowmobilers that raised money, the corporations that gave financial support and prize donations , the volunteers that gave their time, and the media who helped to spread awareness,” said John Denysek, Regional Director for the Yorkton Branch of SaskAbilities.
“The funds raised will help children experiencing disabilities make lifelong friendships while experiencing all the joys of camp without limitations at Camp Easter Seal. Local children will be able to access Summer Fun day camp and many individuals will benefit from Adaptive Technologies improving their quality of life.”
One person really can make a difference – and one need only take a look at the numbers. Kenn Propp was the top fundraiser for Snowarama this year, taking in $20 110 for the Easter Seals program. Lynn Schmidt raised $5 040, with Bruce Peppler coming in a close third with a considerable $4 000. These funds will definitely make a big difference.
Platinum sponsors of the event include Yorkton Co-op, Yorkton Sno-Riders, Fox FM, GX94, CTV, Yorkton This Week, The Marketplace, and the Saskatchewan Snowmobiling Association. For more information, visit http://www.saskabilities.ca/ .
