The Easter Seals Snowarama had another big year in 2014, raising a total of $135,133.43 this year. That money will be going to Camp Easter Seals, the Ability Council's Summer Fun Program and Adaptive Technology.
John Denysek, Regional Director with the Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, says that the continued success of the event speaks to how much people in the region have connected with the cause.
"People believe in assisting children with disabilities achieve an enriched quality of life." All the money raised will be going to helping kids in the different program. Denysek notes it costs $1,500 to send a kid to camp, and $500 for two months of the Summer Fun program, and $1,200 for an adaptive technology assessment.
"All the money raised is converted into services for children," Denysek explains.
While it was another success, Barry Bradshaw, Snowarama Chair, says that the weather was not as cooperative as the team hoped. Trails had to be reworked in order to account for snow conditions. The trail this year went to Good Spirit Lake and back, with other optional trails available for riders. Bradshaw admits that he had some worries about the ride itself, but that it came together in the end and they had beautiful trails for riders on the day itself.
"We've had so much ugly weather... But that's the way we are in Saskatchewan, and you have to live with it year after year."
Bradshaw says it's the people who make it work every year, and he notes that there are riders who raised over $10,000.
"It's amazing, the same people come back year after year, and you don't see a lot of them until the following year, we get people from Regina and Saskatoon."
The three top fundraisers were Kenn Propp, Courtney Frank and Bruce Peppler.
