It takes a community to fight ALS. At stops along the 370-mile Blackwoods Blizzard Tour route on February 3-5, snowmobile clubs and businesses provided lunches for riders. This stop was hosted by Voyageur Snowmobile Club of Two Harbors. All of the proceeds of the Blackwoods Blizzard Tour go to assist ALS patients and their families and for research to find a cure. The 2011 Blizzard Tour raised $650,000.
Once again a number of Cook County snowmobilers joined the Blackwoods Blizzard “Never Surrender” Tour, a ride to fight ALS—raising approximately $8,000 for the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Five local snowmobilers— Tom and Kathy Bernier, Paul Bernier, Chuck Silence, and Ron “Carbine” Carlson were among the 181 snowmobilers on the three-day, 370-mile snowmobile ride on February 3-5, 2011.
The five riders started at the Black Woods restaurant in Proctor, riding to Fortune Bay Resort in Tower on the first day; from Tower to Two Harbors the second day and back to Proctor on the final day.
Riding on the Blizzard Tour were Minnesota Twins celebrities— American League Manager of the Year Ron Gardenhire, former catcher Terry Steinbach, batting coach Joe Vavra, and pitching coach Rick Anderson. The Twins organization is an integral part of the Blizzard Tour, lending not only the Twins name to the tour, but riding and encouraging other riders.
Celebrating another successful Blackwoods Blizzard Tour were Cook County riders (L-R) Chuck Silence, Ron “Carbine” Carlson, Tom Bernier, Paul Bernier, and Kathy Bernier.
The event culminated in a gala dinner on Saturday, February 5, provided by Blackwoods at the Greysolon Ballroom in Duluth. The evening was bittersweet— riders heard from the family of an ALS patient who participated in last year’s tour—riding in a special tow-behind sled on a portion of the ride—who died just five days after the 2010 ride. The man’s family expressed appreciation to the ALS Society of MN for its assistance with equipment needs, such as a voice-assisted device but even more so for the morale support.
ALS Society Executive Director Sue Spalding then announced the total raised to fight this fatal disease. Spalding reminded riders that the goal was $600,000 and she happily announced that the goal had been surpassed. The 181 riders of Blizzard Tour 2011 raised $650,000.
A feat to be proud of, especially in today’s economic conditions. And a feat that rider Kathy Bernier hopes to repeat. All of the riders expressed heartfelt appreciation to those who donated. Bernier added, “We’re already looking forward to riding again and beating this year’s total.”
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