THUNDER BAY – There might not be a lot of snow in the city, but organizers of this weekend’s Sled for Eternity event says it’s all systems go in Kakabeka Falls.
Robby Ahuja, Northwestern Ontario director for Adult and Teen Challenge, said the fourth annual fundraiser should go off without a hitch, thanks to the most recent dusting of snow that arrived in the region earlier this week.
“It’s going to be great,” Ahuja said.
“We’re so thankful we have a sufficient amount of snow to do the ride this Saturday. Snowmobilers can expect a great time. They can experience what it’s been like every year.”
Lunch and dinner are provided as part of the $100 entry fee, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
There will also be checkpoint prizes throughout the day, Ahuja added, noting the top fundraising prizes include a 2017 Yamaha Sidewider Turbon snowmobile and a used 2010 Kia Forte driven just 71,000 kilometres.
“It’s an event you don’t want to miss if you’re snowmobiler,” he said.
It’s an event the organization doesn’t want to miss either, second on their annual fundraising list behind Adult and Teen Challenge’s summertime golf tournament.
“This has a huge impact for us. This fundraiser was set up four years ago. January, February and March are very difficult for charities after Christmas and we needed something to help pay the bills for the first quarter of the year,” Ahuja said.
“This event has been it, so we really need people to come so we can continue to help men and women with life-controlling addictions.”
As of Wednesday, about 47 people had signed up, some shying away because of melting snow that forced the closure of many snowmobile trails.
Organizers would like to see that number climb to more than 100 by Saturday.
Adrian Tessier, a groomer and co-ordinator with Thunder Bay Adventure Trails, said riders have nothing to fear.
“We were out yesterday riding around the majority of the trails and were pleasantly surprised. The trails were in very, very good condition,” Tessier said.
“We had closed all the trails with the warm rain we had some days ago, but last night I opened up all the trails again because the conditions are excellent.”
Registration takes place Saturday morning at the Kakabeka Legion, with a couple of start-line options available to participants. Passengers are $50 per person, in addition to the entry fee.
