Operation Red Nose has officially launched its local campaign in the Battlefords for 2015.
The annual campaign, designed to get holiday revellers safely home as an alternative to drinking and driving, started up in the Battlefords in 2009 in conjunction with the North Battleford Lions Club.
This year's campaign launched at an event at the Lions Clubhouse Wednesday afternoon. Its first nights of operation are Nov. 27 and 28 and will continue every weekend — Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19— up until its final night New Year's Eve.
The idea is for volunteers to drive individuals home in their own vehicle from whatever function they attend this holiday season. Local numbers to call are 306-446-2827 or 306-480-9876.
In 2014, Operation Red Nose provided 269 rides in the Battlefords with 141 volunteers.
This is the 32nd annual national campaign for Operation Red Nose, which expects to provide its two-millionth ride Nov. 28.
The Battlefords was the first community in Saskatchewan to be part of the national campaign, which has since expanded to include Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina.
"You were the first in Saskatchewan to do it," said Mayor Ian Hamilton, who credited the local North Battleford Lions Club as "community leaders" for their efforts with Operation Red Nose. "I commend you and support you with this initiative very, very strongly."
It is a free service. Once again, the local initiative will also raise money for local youth amateur sports and last year collected over $5,277 from riders plus another $6,200 in corporate donations to KidSport, for a final donation of $11,300.
This year they have raised $7,500 for the 2015 campaign.
S/Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt of Battlefords RCMP called it a "huge value to the community" and "just to have this as an opportunity for people to get a safe ride home ... It's nice to see there are other community organizations that are involved in their own initiatives to make sure there's a safe community."
Woolfitt encouraged everyone to call and plan their ride.
SGI is also a sponsor of Operation Red Nose and they also encourage people to plan "a safe ride home."
