THUNDER BAY - Ron and Lisa Maggrah were gearing up to take on more than 200 kilometres of groomed trails through the Northwestern Ontario wilderness and couldn’t wait to get on their snowmobiles and start the journey.
“I did it last year,” Lisa said. “It was amazing. It was lots of fun. It’s the only one I’ve ever done and it’s fun with your friends. We go all the way and back.”
“I’m looking forward to the new experience,” Ron added. “I’ve never done it before. It’s kind of exciting.”
More than 100 riders took part in Sled for Eternity on Saturday, an annual snowmobile ride in support of Adult and Teen Challenge.
“That’s just a bonus,” said Lisa of supporting Adult and Teen Challenge. “A huge bonus. We are big supporters of them.”
According to Robby Ahuja, director for Northwestern Ontario Adult and Teen Challenge, the Sled for Eternity ride goes a long way in supporting programming in Thunder Bay.
“By people doing this and enjoying this and having a blast, they are actually helping to change a life,” he said.
Adult and Teen Challenge provides support services to men and women facing a life controlling addition. There is already a live-in residence for men located in Thunder Bay and Ahuja said the first residence for women is expected to open in the summer of 2018.
Now in it’s fifth year, Ahuja said he hopes this year’s Sled for Eternity will raise more than $60,000, which would be on par with the more than $61,000 raised last year.
Riders were given the choice of two routes along groomed Thunder Bay Adventure Trails. The Family Route took riders on a 180 kilometre trek to Shebandowan and back, while the SledHead Route added an additional 55 to 100 kilometres.
“It’s a full-day commitment,” Ron said. “We are going to be out here all day and we have plenty of water, food, lots of gas.”
Ahuja said it is one of the longest rides offered all year, but he believes there are a number of different reasons riders keep coming back year after year.
“It’s an awesome ride that is not only well organized, well run, includes lunch, dinner, snacks, is family friendly, but it’s also for a cause,” he said. “The cause is to help us support our programming.”
“The ride is awesome,” Ahuja added. “But the majority of people are doing it for the cause.”
All the riders gearing up and warming up the sleds would agree that traversing hundreds of kilometres of trails on these powerful machines is a great way to spend a beautiful winter day, but it is the journey that it allows others to take who are battling life-controlling addictions that makes it worth while.
“It’s a bonus that it’s Teen Challenge,” Lisa said.
“It really is a worthy cause and it’s a lot of fun,” Ron added.
