Ride for Kids raises money for children in care
By James Tubb on June 18, 2022.
Five-year-old Everett Lonson and his family make weekly trips to Calgary, where he receives treatment for actue lymphoblastic leukemia. SUBMITTED PHOTO.kking@medicinehatnews.com Bikers in southeast Alberta are cruising for a cause today, as they take part in the Ride for Kids’ second annual fundraising event, which supports local children and youth undergoing medical treatment. Each year, volunteers from Ride for Kids, a Medicine Hat-based non-profit organization, connect with a different child in the community impacted by health concerns. The group then hosts a poker run fundraiser in their honour, with all proceeds going toward costs associated with their care. Last year, the group raised more than $12,000 for a child diagnosed with Von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome, a hereditary condition which causes tumours to develop in various regions of the body. Volunteers are hoping funds raised through today’s ride will match or surpass last year’s total. “This year, we’re supporting a little boy named Everett,” Heather McCaig, Ride for Kids volunteer and promotions manager, said. “Everett has leukemia. He’s had leukemia for three years, and he has to go to Calgary regularly for treatments. He’s going to be doing this for the next five or six years of his life, until they’re able to stop it, which is quite costly for the family. “Families with children who are ill like this focus most of their resources on their kids … The family has to pay gas and accommodations to stay overnight. A lot of times (Everett’s) drugs aren’t 100% covered … So we want to be able to give the family some help because, financially, this kind of thing is just devastating.” McCaig invites community members to come out and show support for Everett and his family, either by taking part in the poker run or meeting at the Irvine bike park afterward, where there will be live music, door prizes, a silent auction and more. Everett and his family will also be in attendance. “The more people who can come and help Everett and his family, the happier we are,” McCaig said. Registration for the poker run opens at 10 a.m. at Badlands Harley Davidson in Dunmore. Registration is $20 per hand. Ride begins at 11. Irvine bike park celebrations are expected to begin at 5 p.m. 12
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