Snow! The organizers of the Grand Portage Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids were wishing for snow and they got it. Hundreds of snowmobilers enjoyed Cook County trails, riding a short route from Grand Portage Lodge to Ryden’s Border Store or a 50-mile trek to Devil Track Landing. Along the way they encountered other riders taking part in the Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club Fun Run too. It was a great day on the trails.
Snow arrived in time for the 9th annual Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids on Saturday, February 4—and with it came 104 snowmobilers who raised $28,000 to benefit Easter Seals of Ontario.
By all accounts the trails were great, whether riders took the short ride over to Ryden’s Border Store to enjoy a bonfire or the long ride to Devil Track Landing. The Landing at Devil Track was an incredibly busy place, with riders from both Snowarama and the Cook County RidgeRiders Snowmobile Club Fun Run making a stop there. Adding to the fun was a visit from Yamaha, offering test drives on new snowmobiles.
A tired crowd of riders gathered for a delicious spaghetti dinner at Grand Portage Lodge on Saturday night to hear directly from some of the kids and families about how the money raised at Snowarama benefits Easter Seals kids. Terry Douglas of Thunder Bay, mom of Easter Seal Ambassador Kendall Douglas, was the evening’s emcee. She explained how wonderful it was to have the camps funded by Easter Seals. Her daughter Kendall had recently attended such a camp and Douglas said when she came home, “She said for the first time ever she felt like everyone else.”
Snowarama gives participants the chance to get to know some of the kids and families who are helped by Easter Seals, such as 8-year-old Amy Rybar of Thunder Bay, who helped with prize drawings.
Douglas called up a helper, another Easter Seal Ambassador Amy Rybar, who shyly took the microphone to say, “Thank you for coming tonight!”
Amy then drew the winning tickets for some great prizes—snowmobile jackets and gear—for lucky riders.
Then Douglas asked another Easter Seals Ambassador, Zachary Pylychuk, 8, of Thunder Bay to come up and help with the next prize drawing for weekend stays at Indianhead Resort, Hollow Rock Resort and Hungry Jack Lodge. But before drawing, Douglas asked Zachary what his favorite part of the weekend was. With a huge grin, Zachary replied, “A snowmobile ride!”
Members of the Grand Portage Trail Riders as well as the other members of the Snowarama planning staff were called forward and recognized for all their hard work on the event. Appreciation was expressed to sponsors of Snowarama—Easter Seals Ontario, the Chronicle-Journal, Dougall Media, the Grand Portage Trail Riders, the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
While waiting for the spaghetti dinner, Easter Seals Ambassador Zachary Pylychuk, 8, of Thunder Bay, gave his little brother Nathaniel a ride on the back of his motorized wheelchair.
The names of the top fundraisers were then announced, with Andrew Bouley of Thunder Bay earning the most for Easter Seals—$2,850. This is the third year that Bouley has been the top fundraiser—and the sixth year he has participated.
The second highest fundraiser was Karen Farner who raised $1,237 and third was Len Olson who raised $703.50.
The News-Herald caught up with Bouley after the evening’s program, and asked why he works so hard to be the top fundraiser each year. Bouley said he decided to do it after meeting the Easter Seal Ambassador kids. He said the first year he was convinced to take part by his wife, who is friends with Senior Development Officer for Easter Seals Ontario Rhonda Harrison. Bouley said he raised the minimum amount to ride.
“Then I got here and saw who it is helping. And I said, ‘I get it now.’ The next year I raised $640. Last year I raised $2730. I ask everyone I know,” he said.
Bouley gave a fundraising tip. “I tell them if they give $20 or more, they get a tax-deduction receipt. Anything less—you put a smile on a kid’s face,” he said.
In addition to raising money for Easter Seals, he has encouraged others to take part. “I’ve gotten friends and family to come,” adding with a laugh, “I’ve lost a pledge, but if they come with more money that’s great. I challenge everyone to take part.”
Another rider overheard his comment and called out, “Next year I’ll beat you! Whatever you raise, I’ll raise a dollar more.”
Bouley just grinned and told his friend to go for it. He will be back, he said, as long as he can ride a snowmobile. And he encourages others to do the same.
To learn more about Easter Seals and how it has helped kids with physical disabilities succeed for 90 years, visit www.easterseals.org.
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