The Grand Portage Trail Riders were up bright and early in subzero temperatures on Saturday, February 2, firing up the woodstove in the shelter at Grand Portage Trail Center and starting a bonfire where riders in the 10th annual Snowarama for Easter could warm up and have a hotdog or S’mores as they passed by.
The 10th annual Snowarama for Easter Seals was once again an amazing success, with 77 riders hitting the terrific Grand Portage trails on Feb. 2 and perhaps more importantly, raising $24,575 to help Easter Seals of Ontario.
The weather was bitter cold as riders set out from Grand Portage Trail Center. But the intrepid riders just bundled up and not only endured the minus 13 degree temperature, they enjoyed it. About half of the riders traveled the long route, heading from Grand Portage to Trail Center or Hungry Jack Lodge on the Gunflint Trail. The rest of the riders stayed closer to the comforts of Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, traveling a delightfully twisting trail through winter maples to scenic overlooks and the beautiful Partridge Falls.
Nearly all of the riders took a break at Grand Portage Trail Center where the Grand Portage Trail Riders had a nice bonfire going with hot dogs and the fixings for S’mores.
After the riding was done, there was a delicious prime rib buffet back at the Lodge and the awarding of prizes. For every $100 a rider raised in the 10th annual Snowarama, he or she received a ticket in a drawing for one of 10 fabulous prize packages. A total of $10,000 in prizes was awarded with prize packages including dining and lodging at Grand Portage and Thunder Bay, snowmobile gear and accessories. Ten happy riders received an armload of goodies.
Left: Easter Seals Ambassador Zachary Pylychuk did a great job at the dinner for riders on Saturday night. He presented a special vest from Easter Seals, bearing the Grand Portage logo and 10 patches—one from each year the event has been held—to Grand Portage Tribal Chairman Norman Deschampe. Right: Despite the cold weather, riders were all smiles along the trails.
But the real reason for the ride was brought home by the current and former Easter Seals Ambassadors at the event. Terry Douglas of Thunder Bay, mom of Easter Seals Ambassador Kendall Douglas was the evening’s emcee. She thanked everyone for taking part, noting that it is impossible to express enough appreciation to Easter Seals for its work with children with physical disabilities.
Douglas called up another Easter Seals mom, Jacqueline Pylychuk, of Thunder Bay. Jacqueline is the mother of 9-year-old Zachary Pylychuk, who has been the Easter Seals Ambassador for Snowarama for several years. Zachary has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), sometimes referred to as children’s Lou Gehrig’s disease, and his mom said, that means he doesn’t get to be outdoors very much. She said, “Zachary likes to go fast, to feel the wind in his face. And he can tell you that his chair can go six miles per hour.”
Zach’s dream, said Jacqueline, was to ride on a snowmobile. That dream came true at last year’s Snowarama, when Grand Portage Trail Riders President Tony Swader and Snowarama top-fundraiser Andrew Bouley took Zach and his little brother Nathaniel for a ride.
Jacqueline said that meant the world to her and to Zach. After the dinner, she added, things like the snowmobile ride are what Easter Seals is about. Jacqueline said Easter Seals provides equipment that aids in mobility and helps kids achieve a level of independence they couldn’t otherwise.
In recognition of the 10th year of Grand Portage hosting Snowarama for Easter Seals, Rhonda Harrison, development officer for Easter Seals Ontario, along with Ambassador Zach, called forward Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairman Norman Deschampe. They presented Deschampe with a handsome winter vest adorned with the Grand Portage logo—and patches from every Snowarama.
Harrison then called up all of the Easter Seals Ambassador alumni to help announce the grand total that has been raised by the Grand Portage Snowarama. The kids, with help from Norman Deschampe, unfurled the giant check—$255,799.
The evening wrapped up with visiting, a reunion of sorts. The riders, the Grand Portage community and the Easter Seals families have become close over the last 10 years. And like families, they kidded and challenged one another. Next year, they promised, they will raise even more!
It can cost families an additional $10,000 – $40,000 a year to raise a child with a physical disability and most families can’t do it on their own. For the past 90 years, Easter Seals Ontario has provided families of children with financial disabilities financial assistance for expensive mobility and communication devices such as walkers, braces, and wheelchairs; Easter Seals camps and alternative recreation programs.
To learn more about Easter Seals and how it has helped kids with physical disabilities succeed for over 90 years, visit www.easterseals.org.
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