Snowarama 2010 saw 95 riders who raised $30,000 for Easter Seals—and had a great time on the Grand Portage trails. A group of Snowarama riders fresh off the terrific Grand Portage trails.
For 87 years, Easter Seals has been helping kids with physical disabilities succeed— for the last seven years, snowmobilers from Grand Portage and the Thunder Bay area have helped Easter Seals fulfill its mission. On Saturday, February 20, 2010, the seventh annual Snowarama for Easter Seals was held, offering snowmobilers a great day on the Grand Portage snowmobile trails, followed by a dinner and dance at the Grand Portage Lodge at which the total raised was revealed. Rhonda Harrison of Easter Seals, Ontario, was obviously excited about the total—she happily announced that the 95 riders taking part in Snowarama 2010 had raised $30,000 for Easter Seals.
Matt Villella of Easter Seals thanked all of the fundraising riders, enthusiastically declaring that everyone was, “Amazing and awesome!”
Villella and Harrison presented certificates of appreciation to Grand Portage Lodge & Casino and to the Grand Portage Trail Riders for their work preparing the trails and the dinner. Mary Ann Gagnon accepted the Trail Riders’ award and said, “We are proud to sponsor this great event that helps so many children.”
Easter Seals Ambassador Zachary Pylychuk celebrates with the Snowarama rider who won the Polaris 550 IQ Shift snowmobile, Gary Steele of Thunder Bay.
An Easter Seal certificate of appreciation was also presented to the Grand Portage Tribal Council with heartfelt thanks for its purchase of the Polaris IQ-Shift snowmobile that was to be given away to a Snowarama rider. Tribal Council member Bill Myers said, “On behalf of Tribal Chair Norman Deschampe, the council and myself, I want to thank all the people who came out to ride and help Easter Seals. It’s exciting that someone will leave here tonight with a brand new snowmachine—we hope to see it back here at Snowarama next year.”
Top fundraisers were then recognized: Andrew Bouley of Thunder Bay raised $2,750; his father, John Bouley, also of Thunder Bay raised $912; and Kim Wright raised $793. Thetop youth fundraiser was Brandon Dahl of Grand Portage, who raised $331, followed by Tyson Orr of Thunder Bay who raised $300.
Finally it was time for the drawing for the Polaris snowmobile and Easter Seals Ambassador Zachary Pylychuk drew a ticket out of the drum filled with entries— one for each $77 raised by a rider. Before the winner was announced however, Zachary’s mom, Jacqueline Pylychuk expressed appreciation for all that Easter Seals does for kids like Zachary and his fellow Ambassador Erica Valiharju. Jacqueline said the help from Easter Seals that allows kids to live lives “as normal as can be” is as important as medical equipment. She said the Easter Seal camps for kids are priceless to the children and their families.
Zachary then handed over the winning ticket—belonging to Gary Steele of Thunder Bay.
Although there may have been some disappointment over not winning the Polaris snowmobile, there was no disappointment in the day’s event, or the good feeling of riding for a great cause.
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