Parade of lights

The Parade of Lights is adding a fourth charity to its cause in 2010.

This year’s event has taken on the Special Olympics, being held in Thunder Bay early next year, as a one-time beneficiary, said Greg Stephenson, president of the Thunder Bay Police Association.

"It’s geared to children too, so we thought this year we’d make an exception to bring them on board and it helps them out too," Stephenson said.

The Dec. 4 parade, which features up to 50 trucks decked out in Christmas lights, is entering its 12th year, also supports Autism Ontario, the Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Association and the Sunshine Dreams for kids.

Stephenson said it’s easy to want to get behind the parade, and there are plenty of reasons so many people volunteer.

"It’s a worthwhile cause. It benefits very needy charities in the Thunder Bay area that need the funds. It’s also the feedback of the people. Every year people come out, no matter what the weather to see the trucks. They do a wonderful job," Stephenson said.

"If it wasn’t for the trucks we have here and the drivers in the Thunder Bay area, and frankly from Winnipeg and other surrounding areas, we wouldn’t have a parade."

Funds are collected through pledge forms given to parade participants, and through donations which volunteers collect along the parade route, which organizers said will remain the same. The parade will originate at Manitoulin Transport’s Main Street yard, up the Harbour Expressway, turning onto Memorial Avenue, ending at Tim Hortons.

Last year the parade raised $15,000, though with the additional charity on board, officials hope to add an additional $5,000 to their total, which will be split evenly between the four charities.

Mandy Cook couldn’t thank organizers enough on Monday. Her son Colin, the honourary parade marshal, has two forms of cerebral palsy. Thanks in part to donations made during last year’s parade, Colin, 12, was given a specialty Freedom Spirit three-wheel bicycle that has provider her son with mobility he never before knew.

"They asked us what his dream would be. It was to have a bicycle and ride one like a regular kid," she said.

"We were so shocked that they gave it to us, because these things are worth the price of a car. There’s no way we could have afforded it, so it was a really wonderful thing to happen. It really was. Because of that we’re more than happy to be in the parade and help as much as we can."