On the third day of their six-day tour of Saskatchewan, the Prairie Women on Snowmobiles (PWOS) were in Preeceville, Norquay and Canora, where at each stop they were presented with donations for their main cause, which is to find a cure for breast cancer.
After having spent the night in Preeceville, the group of 10 women on snowmobiles, accompanied by about six other people in support vehicles, stopped at the Activity Centre in Canora where the Canora Wheatland Lionesses served them lunch.
While in Canora, the group was presented with a donation of $500 from the Lioness Club, $250 from Crossroads Credit Union, $500 from SGI and $1,000 from Community Insurance. Members of PWOS then presented special survivors’ pins to Canora cancer survivors: Bernice Wilgosh, Heather Chabun and Polly Ripa.
The luncheon of submarine sandwiches and beverages included cookies that were donated by the Canora Subway restaurant.
Included in the group of 10 were Holly Hudye of Norquay and Kelly Kim Rea of Pelly. Hudye introduced all 10 members of the tour and members of their pit crew and then provided a brief history of the initiative which has 10 women travel over 1,400 kilometres in six days focussing on breast cancer and snowmobiling.
The tours, which began in 2001, have raised $2.3 million for the Canadian Cancer Society, Hudye explained, thanking everyone at the reception for their support.
“These women increase awareness by promoting early detection and breast self-exams, as well as safe snowmobiling, as they sled through many communities,” says information from Mission 2016.
“These riders get support from the numerous sleds they join throughout the ride,” the information said. “They will also be listening to survivors of breast cancer and to families of breast cancer victims. Being part of this organization is very emotionally rewarding, a feeling that cannot be put into words.
“One in nine females is expected to develop breast cancer in their lifetime, while one in 29 females are expected to die from it.
“Initially, I didn’t know what to expect,” Hudye said during the luncheon. “It is very good, the camaraderie among the participants and meeting the survivors.
“I feel we are promoting a good cause and we’re seeing some of the country that we’ve never seen before.”
“This is fantastic,” Rea said. “We’ve met wonderful people. It is an awesome experience, both emotional and overwhelming.
“We had an excellent reception in Norquay,” she said. “And I’m feeling muscles I didn’t know existed.”
The PWOS began their six-day tour on January 31 in Prince Albert, and visited Birch Hills, Kinistino, Melfort and Naicam. Day two had them start in Naicam and proceed to Archerwill, Kelvington, Invermay and Preeceville. On the third day, the group left Preeceville and went on to Norquay and Canora before pausing for a coffee break at Good Spirit and then ending the day in Yorkton. The rest of the itinerary included visiting Ituna, Balcarres, Cupar, Fort Qu'Appelle, Indian Head, Wolseley, Montmarte, Kipling, Stoughton and Windthorst before ending the tour in Broadview.
But, because of a lack of snow in the southern part of the province, it was expected that after visiting Yorkton, the women would be putting their snowmobiles onto flatbed trailers to be hauled the rest of the way.
Prairie Women On Snowmobiles was formed when two friends, one a breast cancer survivor, decided to snowmobile across Saskatchewan to raise funds for breast cancer research, said the information on PWOS. Together the two planned, organized and implemented PWOS.
The goal since conception is to have this Mission go across Saskatchewan each and every year to raise the funding for breast cancer research because breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women.
Mission 2015 raised a total of $142,931, which was $113,250 for the Canadian Cancer Society and $29,681 for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency that will be used for the purchase of equipment, it said. “In the last three years PWOS have contributed over $50,000 to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
The Kamsack Cancer Self Help Group held its annual fundraiser at Westminster Memorial United Church on January 27 when soup and sandwiches were sold and a raffle was held. A portion of proceeds were donated to the PWOS.
