M. McKinnon
Sixty-five riders raised $20,735 for Easter Seals at Atikokan’s 34th Snowarama January 28. That’s up $2,600 from a year ago.
“It makes me proud to be part of Atikokan, and to be part of this organization,” said Monique Ribey, chair of the event that brings together the SnoHo Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Legion, the Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Browns’ Clearwater West Lodge, sledders and donors.
“Thanks to our generous donors, we continue to offer programs that allow kids to experience freedom, independence and a sense of accomplishment,” said Rhonda Harrison of Easter Seals. “For families, Easter Seals is somewhere to turn for help when they need it. Your support means so much to these children and their families.”
For the eleventh time (and the second time since he passed away in December, 2010) Michael Dennis’ name was at the top of the pledges-earned list, as $3,350 was donated in his memory. Many of the donors had been pledging to him since he started riding in the event 16 years ago, after serving as Easter Seal ambassador in 1995 at age 15.
His parents, Terry and Valerie, were among the top pledge earners, bringing in close to $2,000 more.
The largest single donation came from the Marathon volunteer firefighters, who put $2,500 toward the cause, in support of Marathon rider Normand Lavoie. He brought in a total of $3,350.
It was a tight race again for the Michael Dennis Memorial Plaque; the plaque honours the top youth pledge earner. Last year Ryeli Caron edged Brielle Whalley for top spot; this year it was Brielle, with $1,900, $70 more than Ryeli.
Brielle’s sister, Miriam Whalley, was the youngest rider, at 19 months, while long-time participant Arlo Jewell made his first ride as a septuagenarian to take the senior rider honours. Grant Legaree won the tow truck prize, for heading out onto the trails in a machine several years older than he is, a ’94 Arctic Cat.
Last week’s snow made for slushy conditions on the lakes; that, combined with windy conditions, kept anyone from getting all the way to White Otter Castle. But the SnoHo Club had the land trails well-groomed, and the cold helped keep them solid, so sledding conditions on the trails were quite good.
The Legion Ladies fed the riders, the St. Pat’s Glee Club provided a little post-prandial entertainment, and then Monique Ribey and Rhonda Harrison conducted the official duties.
Sheri Alcock, aunt to Easter Seal Ambassador Hayden Cox, spoke on his behalf, noting how “Hayden has benefitted tremendously from Easter Seals.” She told the assembly of the wonderful support he also gets from his school and classmates at St. Pat’s, and how medical treatment in 2010 has helped.
Finally, there was some discussion about exactly how many Snowaramas there have been in Atikokan.
Famous wrestler Whipper Billy Watson started Snowarama in 1975, raising over $130,000 that year with 12 events across Ontario. The first record in the Progress of a snowmachine ride for the Ontario Society for Crippled Children (as Easter Seals was then known) occurring here is in 1979, when 106 riders set out for the Castle and raised $8,240.
Although there were organized rides to the Castle prior to that date, it does not appear that they were Crippled Children benefits. So with 1979 as a start, then this year’s was indeed the 34th Atikokan Snowarama.
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