This year's Snowarama campaign has officially launched, and it's already better than last year. The event has gotten the snow it needs and now it's time to get the riders together and raise money for Easter Seals.
This is one of the largest fundraisers for Easter Seals in the province, and John Denysek, Regional Director of the Saskatchewan Abilities Council says that it's because of the support across the community that the event has been able to succeed for over 30 years. For every $150 raised, riders get an entry to win a 2013 Ski-Doo, donated by King Sport and Marine and Ski-Doo.
This year's event will have an entire weekend of activity, starting with a wing night and registration on Friday, February 8 at the Gallagher Centre. The ride is on February 9, starting with breakfast at the Gallagher Centre at 9 a.m. The ride itself begins at 10 a.m. and heads first to Rhein, where coffee and donuts will be served. It then goes to Good Spirit Lake where the Golf and Country club is hosting a luncheon.
The ride then returns to the Gallagher Centre for supper at 5:30 p.m., where prizes will also be rewarded. Gas will be supplied by Yorkton Co-op, and the trails will be groomed before and after the event by the Yorkton Snowriders.
This year's goal is to raise $150,000 and attract about 350 riders. Denysek says that the event is better the more riders get involved, and since there's no worries about snow this year it should be smooth sailing.
"I know some people are cursing the snow, but the snow is very much needed for Snowarama. I think there's a lot of pent up energy from last year's event," Denysek says.
The event raises funds for Camp Easter Seals, adaptive technologies and a summer fun program, explains Denysek. It costs $1,500 per kid to send them to the wheelchair accessible camp at Lake Manitou, Denysek notes, and $500 to participate in summer fun activities. The adaptive technologies portion uses technology to minimize disabilities.
Pledge envelopes are available at local snowmobile dealers or online at www.snowarama.ca.
