Local snowmobilers participated in the Blackwoods Blizzard “Never Surrender” Tour, a ride to fight ALS, February 4-6, 2010, riding 370 miles. The Cook County riders were among the 153 snowmobilers who rode and raised $503,000 in the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. About half of the participants’ machines are pictured here.
The Blackwoods Blizzard “Never Surrender” Tour, a ride to fight ALS, took place February 4-6, 2010 with 153 snowmobilers raising $503,000 for the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Four local snowmobilers were on the trails, riding 370 miles over three days. Tom and Kathy Bernier and Chuck Silence of Grand Marais and Ron “Carbine” Carlson of Hovland took part, raising $7,550 for the ALS event.
The snowmobilers rode from the Black Woods restaurant in Proctor 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. There were concerns leading up to the Blizzard Tour about the weather, but the riders said the trail conditions were good. “There was plenty of snow,” said Tom Bernier at the end of the ride. “Thetrails were great.”
Terry Steinbach, former Minnesota Twins catcher, served as the celebrity host of the event for the 11th year. Joining Steinbach on the ride again this year were Minnesota Twins Manager, Ron Gardenhire; Twins batting coach, Joe Vavra; and former Minnesota Twins great, Kent Hrbek.
The riders at Fortune Bay Resort on Lake Vermilion. (L-R) Tom Bernier, Kathy Bernier, Chuck Silence, Ron “Carbine” Carlson.
On Saturday, February 6, a banquet was held at the Blackwoods Greysolon Ballroom in Duluth. In addition to hearing from Twins personnel, the riders and their guests enjoyed hearing speaker Joe Soucheray, Pioneer Press
columnist and host of KSTP’s Garage Logic.
Most importantly, however, riders learned what had been raised and heard from ALS Society of MN Executive Director Sue Spalding, who shared letters of thanks that had been received from families of people who were afflicted with ALS. Spalding said those thanks go to the participants in the Blizzard Tour.
“The Blackwoods Blizzard Tour board and riders set high goals for the Tour this year,” said Spalding. “I am very proud of the accomplishments achieved. The people who volunteer on the board, committees, groomers, riders and sponsors continually strive to work for a common cause—to help people with ALS and find a cure for this horrible disease.”
Kathy Bernier spoke for other riders when she said, “This was the best year ever. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us this year. Raising money to fight ALS is near and dear to my heart and it means a lot that so many people donated, especially in such tough times.”
“We’re already looking forward to riding again and beating this year’s total,” she said.
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