THUNDER BAY – The 21st annual Parade of Lights helped raise $28,396 for four local charities.
It’s money that will be put to good use, said Clarence Downey of the Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Association, one of the youth related organizations handed a sizeable cheque on Wednesday morning from parade organizers.
“The money that we’ve got coming in from the parade, that goes to help feeding the horses, vet bills, the farrier – just upkeep for everything on the horses,” said Clarence Downey of the Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Association, an organization celebrating its 30th year in 2020.
Downey said seeing the amount of money raised by parade organizers is a clear indication of just how giving the people of Northwestern Ontario are, willing to donate to four great causes.
Other organizations receiving money on Wednesday included Autism Ontario, the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation and Special Olympics Ontario.
“This is quite an event. We’ve been involved in it pretty much every year since it started,” said Downey, who has participated in all 21 Parade of Lights.
“The money that’s raised through the community for all the four charities, is just absolutely amazing how big the heart is in Thunder Bay for all the people who do donate and come out and participate in the parade, all the truck drivers who participate in it and put a lot of work and effort into getting things decorated and make it all feasible for all the charities involved in it,” Downey said.
Greg Stephenson, chair of the Thunder Bay Parade of Lights, said the money was a little shy of their goal, but he’s pleased with the final tally.
“It goes to support four local charities and the work they do in the community. It’s wonderful,” Stephenson said.
“It’s a busy time of year, it’s just before Christmas and we have all sorts of other things people are looking to donate to, so for the citizens of Thunder Bay to be able to donate that amount of money, we’re extremely grateful.”
Stephenson said there are a lot of special needs youth in the city and surrounding area, which makes the hard work all that much more worthwhile.
“They benefit from all four and some of them overlap. You may find a person who benefits from George Jeffrey Children’s Centre is also in the therapeutic riding association,” he said.
A record number of vehicles took part in the 2019 parade.
