Riders needed for Eastman ATV Ride for Mom

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This article was published 18/05/2019 (1803 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s the fourth year riders will be fueling up their ATVs and strapping on their helmets to raise money for breast cancer¬—but so far, it’s a small crew.

Eastman ATV President Donald Eidse said there are 160 riders signed up for the Eastman ATV Association’s annual ATV Ride for Mom, a fundraiser for CancerCare Manitoba. Usually, they have well over 300.

Eidse thinks this is in part because of the cold spring. Also, riders are realizing they can sign up at the event, which makes it difficult for Eastman ATV to estimate how many will show up. They accommodate a maximum of 500 ATVs.

Fewer riders don’t necessarily mean less money in donations for CancerCare Manitoba. Eastman ATV hopes to raise $12,000 from donations, which is just under half of the amount Ride for Mom has earned in the past three years.

“I’m confident we can get it,” said Eidse. “Our number of riders might be down, but donations are going way up.”

According to Eidse, the event only had two or three sponsors last year. This year, there are 11.

“The riders are valuing the event’s charitable contribution. You can even see it from the ride because it’s very relaxed and family-oriented,” said Eidse.

ATV riders will be driving the 95 km route in Sandilands on June 1. The ride starts at 9 a.m. at Eastman Day Stop (perhaps better known as Suicide Hill), which Eidse assures no riders will actually drive on.

“We’ve had riders injured on that hill before,” said Eidse. “If someone gets hurt goofing around, we don’t want it to reflect on Ride for Mom.”

Riders can register online or at the event. There will also be lunch, door prizes and a 50/50 draw.