Local Fundraisers

It's Official, the first "RIDE FOR HEALTH" was a huge success!!

March 1st/2008

It’s early on a Saturday Morning, a time when many people are still waking up or sipping on an early morning coffee, but not this day and not in New-Wes-Valley. All around town one can hear the loud rumble of two-stroke snowmobile engines or the quieter whine of a newer four-stroke. People are up and about, loading machines on their trailers or off pouring gas and lube into their winter mounts because this morning is March 1st and this is the beginning of the first “Ride for Health”.

The “Ride for Health” is a charity snowmobile ride hosted by the Kittiwake Snowmobile Association (K.S.A.), the local Scotiabank branch, the Bonavista North Ladies Tourism and Recreation Corp. (BNL) and Central Health (Brookfield Bonnews Health Center). This snowmobile run isn’t an ordinary, run of the mill winter ride, it’s a fundraiser aimed at raising money to help purchase new emergency equipment for the local hospital which services the communities from Hare Bay to Carmanville.

Rick Kean, Co-Chair of the Kittiwake Snowmobile Association stated, “Our Association members are passionate about snowmobiling, we might sometimes disagree about the best manufacturer of snowmobiles but we never disagree on the best form of precipitation…snow! When we first looked at hosting a community event linking our favorite activity with raising funds for our local hospital, the response was immediate and overwhelming in its support for the initiative. The decision to partner with Brookfield Bonnews Health Center and Scotiabank on the Ride For Health really was a easy one for our membership. We are truly proud to be part of this worthwhile event and in doing our part to help raise funds for our local facility.”

The event included a snowmobile poker run that covered approximately 100km of groomed trail riding, a scavenger hunt for children, a fishing derby, camp fire, dozens of prize draws and a hot lunch provided by the BNL. It was capped off by a dance at the Seagull Lounge with complimentary bus service donated by the Nova Consolidated School Board.

The ride began at a little after 10:00 a.m. with the roar of 75 snowmobile coming to life at one time, one of the younger riders looked at her mother and exclaimed, “Mommy it sounds like thunder but it just keeps going on, it’s pretty cool!”

As the 75 snowmobiles and approximately 125 riders tracked through the pristine Bonavista North landscape many riders likened the long stream of machines to a serpent sliding over the earth’s surface, a little eerie at first but inspiring at the same time. Tracey Kean, the Primary Health Care Manager at Brookfield Bonnews Health Care Center exclaimed, “I’m glad to be part of this event representing Central Health, I’m excited to see so many members of our community come together in a fundraiser for our facility.”

This was very much a community event, in fact it represented groups and individuals from several communities in Bonavista North, Lori Jones, a Scotiabank employee in Wesleyville stated, “I was born in Centreville but now live in New-Wes-Valley, it’s gratifying to see so many faces from both communities come together for this one event, I think it bodes well for the future of this region.”

The event truly was a full team effort that included dozens of community residents, several non-profit community based groups like the Kittiwake Snowmobile Association, dozens of corporate donors/sponsors, the staff and management of the Scotiabank branch in New-Wes-Valley, the RCMP detachment in Wesleyville with Const. Scott Hynes and two members of the Glovertown detachment, and the Nova Consolidated School Board. In fact, a special note of thanks should be given to the Manager of the local Scotiabank Branch, Mr. Wayne Bruce who initiated Scotiabank’s dollar-for-dollar contribution to this worthwhile event.

Also in attendance for the day’s events was Mr. Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Bonavista - Gander – Grand Falls Windsor, “I don’t get to ride very often but when I do I enjoy it to the fullest, when it’s for such a great cause, well it’s even that more special. The fact that the event was put together in less than three weeks is pretty amazing, the fact that they raised over $15,000 was outright astonishing! This took a lot of work by many volunteers, I think Mike and all of the volunteers should be very proud of what they accomplished today, I hope they continue with this event next year. I, for one will be back again.”

Special Mention(s):
Derrick Vincent - Bus driver
Harry Bishop - DJ
Hubert White -Donated Scaffolding
Scott Simms, MP

Sponsoring Groups:
Kittiwake Snowmobile Association
Scotiabank
BNL
Central Northeast Health Foundation(Brian Tremblett)

Corporate Donators/Sponsors:

Ultramar
Perrys Motorsports
Adventure Sales and Service
Easton Facey Hillier Lawrence
Beothic Fish Processors Ltd.
Simmons Honda
Central Cycle and Recreation Ltd
ScotiaMcleod
Rick’s Service Center
SeaGull Lounge
Kittiwake Funeral Home
Stratton’s Marine & Hardware
Mercer’s Marine
Shoreline Offloading Ltd.
Town of New-Wes-Valley
Kittiwake Kitchen
Kozy Corner
Barbour Living Heritage Village
Sun Life Financial

"Snowmobilers Are Community Leaders"