Staff photo/Rhonda Silence Snowarama for Easter Seals Ambassador Zachary Pylychuk teases his mom, Jacqueline, during his visit to the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino on Thursday, January 7 to promote the upcoming Easter Seals event. Zachary tried to talk Grand Portage Trail Riders snowmobile club member Tony Swader into letting him take his mom for a ride! The Snowarama event—which is held on the wonderful Grand Portage trail system—will take place on Saturday, February 20, 2010. All proceeds from Snowarama benefit children and youth with physical disabilities in the Thunder Bay area. For more information, call (800) 688-6252.
For many years, snowmobilers from Minnesota and Ontario have gathered in February to ride in the Snowarama for Easter Seals event, raising money to assist children and youth with physical disabilities in the Thunder Bay area. In addition to knowing they are donating to a great cause, there is a new twist this year, thanks to the collaboration of the Grand Portage Lodge, Grand Portage Trail Riders Snowmobile Club, and Polaris Industries. This year riders have the opportunity to win a 2010 Polaris 550 IQ-Shift snowmobile.
Mary Ann Gagnon of the Trail Riders was happy to make the announcement at a promotional visit by Snowarama for Easter Seals Ambassador Zachary Pylychuk. Six-year-old Zachary, who has been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), sometimes referred to as children’s Lou Gehrig’s disease, was more interested in trying to talk the Trail Riders into letting him drive off on a snowmobile.
However, riders will be excited at the possibility of winning a brand-new machine. To ride in Snowarama, riders must raise a minimum of $100. Most riders raise much more because they like knowing they are helping kids like Zachary. However, there is an added incentive in 2010. After the initial $100, every rider who raises $77.77 will be entered in the drawing for the snowmobile. For each $77.77 raised you get another chance to win.
Gagnon said they are grateful to Polaris Industries and to Sonju Motors who worked with Grand Portage to make it available.
Zachary’s mom, Jacqueline, expressed appreciation to all of the riders and to the Easter Seals organization. She said the organization has been very helpful to their family, assisting with major purchases such as a van with a roll-in lift. However, it’s more than that, she said. “It’s not just about equipment. Easter Seals gives families the ability to help their children be as independent as possible. It supports kids to be able to move around and do things on their own. The support for families is wonderful,” she said.
The ride itself is wonderful too, on the beautiful and well-groomed Grand Portage snowmobile trails. There are always fun activities in conjunction with the ride—bonfires, a dance, and a spaghetti dinner on Saturday night.
Pledge forms for Snowarama are available at the Grand Portage Lodge, Grand Portage Trust Lands, Northern
Wilds,
and the Cook County News-
Herald.
For more information about Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids, call (800) 668-6252.
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