Organizers gearing up for fundraising snowmobile ride, Snowarama celebrating 50 years

Tim Brody - Editor

A major milestone for a long-running fundraiser to help children and youth with physical disabilities. 
Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and locally, organizers are preparing for the 16th running of the event.
The Snowarama website (https://snowarama.org/) explains, “Snowmobilers from across Ontario are revving up their engines for the annual Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids events taking place across Ontario. This unique fundraising experience combines thrilling snowmobile riding with an opportunity for snowmobile clubs and snowmobilers to join in the camaraderie of family activities to help children and youth with physical disabilities.
“Taking place on OFSC trails, Snowarama challenges winter enthusiasts in communities all over Ontario to raise donations for Easter Seals. Whipper Billy Watson originally conceived the event in 1975 and so far OFSC clubs have helped raise more than $18.6 million to benefit kids with physical disabilities.”
“Easter Seals is our longest running preferred charity and we encourage all of the snowmobiling community to support Snowarama in their area this year,” said Murray Baker, OFSC president. “It is particularly important for our support in this pandemic year, by registering and getting pledges to help this worthy cause.”
The Sioux-Hudson Snowarama, taking place on Jan. 25, is being coordinated by Mike Starratt and Tracey Ellek.
Starratt said this year’s snowmobile run will be to Pizza Hut in Dryden, “utilizing both the Ojibway Power Toboggan and Dryden Power Toboggan clubs A Trail that ties the communities together through our immense Canadian shield beauty.”
Starratt said, “2024 was a low snow year and a lot of the snowmobiling trail system of the OFSC didnt get groomed in the province. So instead of a bonfire ride up Lac Seul, the decision was for a group trail ride to Pizza Hut in Dryden. The last time we did this ride to Pizza Hut was about 6 years ago. The ride should be about 110 kms one way, so snowmobiles should be maintained and ready to ride with full tanks for the event.”
Starratt also shared, “The last few years we have asked participants for $100 in pledges to participate in the event. In honour of 50 years of Snowarama we are asking to hopefully collect $150 from each participant. A lunch will be provided at Pizza Hut for the Participants. After lunch, the plan is the group will fuel up at the Mobil-No Frills for the return ride back to the OPTA clubhouse.”
Participants can register online at https://snowarama.org/locations/sioux-lookout/ as well as at the Ojibway Power Toboggan Association Clubhouse at 108 Abram Lake Road at 8:30 am on Jan. 25.
Starratt said the plan is to leave the OPTA Clubhouse at 9:30 a.m.
People can also pledge ride participants online at https://secure.e2rm.com/p2p/donation/390088/en-CA 
For more information people can contact Tracey Ellek at 807-737-3050 or Mike Starratt at 807-737-4777.