Sundown Gymkhana supports victims of child abuse

The 22nd annual Sundown Gymkhana was another success, not just for organizers and the horse-loving public but for a non-profit that has a mission of helping children.

The Guardians of the Children makes it their mission to recognize and react to child abuse and educate the public to do the same, to serve as advocates to provide strength and stability to families in crisis, and to answer the prayer of an abused child or teen for courage, support, and protection.

For the third year, they have been the charitable organization that the gymkhana event helps promote and support.

Carla Campbell, one of the event’s organizers, said they were pleased with how the two-day event on Aug. 29 and 30 went.

The number of competitors was down, but Campbell said that meant a shorter show which people appreciated.

Gymkhana allows horse enthusiasts to take their horses through different challenges that mirror many rodeo events but with a different focus.

“We’re raising funds for people or organizations in need,” she said. “We’re certainly family oriented.”

The event included gymkhana on both days, a supper, live band, and cowboy church on Sunday morning.

With no gate admission and camping available, Campbell said many make it a full weekend.

Guardians of the Children were also on hand raising funds and raising awareness.

The biker organization operates to both protect victims of child abuse and educate the public.

Members do not publish their real names to allow for security and protection of the victims they help.

Instead like Geezer, the local chapter president, they have their own biker names.

In fact, the board of directors in addition to Geezer includes Rooster, Kung Fu Panda, Toaster, and Girlfriend.

Geezer said the annual event near Sundown is a highlight for them.

“It gets us more out in the public eye and interacting with the public so they can find out about us, and they can understand what a problem child abuse is,” he said.

That visibility is important.

“We work off a referral system,” he said. “We don’t actually go out and look for families to work with.”

Once a child has made an outcry of abuse and the criteria for support is met they are “adopted” into the group as a “Little Guardian.”

Members will escort the child to court, attend school, and to social events at the child’s request.

“The goal of these events is to provide a safe space where the Little Guardians can have fun, socialize with others that have experienced similar trauma, and forget for a moment about the fear, doubt, and insecurity that was forced upon them at such a young age,” the Guardians state on their website. “Every child has all the power and strength within themselves, just like a motorcycle on the open road and the biker behind it. We just encourage them to unleash it as we fight their demons together.”

Guardians of the Children welcomes new members to come on board as full-patch members, prospective members, or those at the support level which can include people who don’t have a motorcycle but want to help.

Those considered for membership are carefully screened.

“We make sure everyone gets a criminal record check, a vulnerable sector check, a child abuse registry check,” Geezer said. “They’ve got to do our online course that takes a few hours.”

To learn more about becoming a member or supporting the group, look up Guardians of the Children Steinbach or email info@gocsteinbach.ca.

Geezer said they appreciate the atmosphere and the ability to educate at the annual Sundown event.

“We look forward to it every year now,” he said. “It feels like we get to go and see a bunch of cousins we haven’t seen all year. It’s a very welcoming group of people.”