Picture of Hailey Bonville, the recipient of this year's Ridin' For Kids efforts.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Now a registered charity, and with the child who will benefit from this year’s fundraiser in mind, Ridin’ For Kids is ready to get to work.
This marks the fourth year of the Ridin’ For Kids fundraiser, said Ivan Reimer, president of the Ridin’ For Kids Foundation.
“It started just with a simple idea of helping. I was actually coaching hockey to a little guy and the family needed some help with expenses, going to and from Calgary,” said Reimer. “I expected 20 or 30 bikes to come together and put on a little fundraiser, ride some motorcycles. And as it turned out, close to 100 bikes showed up.”
From there, Reimer discovered that this is what “makes him tick,” and has been dedicated to putting the fundraiser on each year since, alongside a host of volunteers from the city and beyond.
Each year, through connections with area health foundations, school boards and contacts within the Make A Wish Foundation, Reimer finds a family in need of extra support in regards to their child’s health, and this year the event is dedicated to the Bonville family and their daughter Hailey.
Bonville has been diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, which is a serious neurological disorder found almost exclusively in girls. Many children with Rett are unable to speak, walk or use their hands, and Bonville has experienced ongoing regression due to the progressive nature of the disorder.
To help Bonville and her family, all proceeds raised from the silent and live auction, as well as the door-to-door fundraising that’s slated to begin in the next few days, will be given to them in order to support the family and their daughter.
The fundraising will take place over the next several months, up to the day of the actual fundraiser, which will take place on June 15. It is Reimer’s hope that now that Ridin’ For Kids is a registered charity and can offer receipts for tax purposes, they may be able to receive more direct donations from businesses alongside the common items for the auction.
“Every year so far, there hasn’t been a single year that hasn’t gone by where it hasn’t become very emotional for me,” said Reimer. “For me and the entire team. There’s all five of us that are on the board this year, and this is what makes all of us tick.”
Anyone looking to support the cause, be it via item or monetary donation, or by volunteering at one of the many stops along the route of the bike run, are encouraged to reach out via email to ridinforkids@gmail.com, or by calling Reimer at 780-897-2212.
