by Derek Neary
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 01/98) - RCMP Const. Ray Carfantan is back on the job, a little more tanned and a lot closer to helping a seriously ill child have his or her wish granted.

Carfantan teamed up with 21 other RCMP officers to compete in the Challenge Cup Relay from Baker, Calif., to Las Vegas, Nev., last weekend. The 192-kilometre trek across the desert was a competitive relay race and a means to raise money for the Children's Wish Foundation.

The final tabulations aren't in yet, but close to $6,000 was raised for the foundation. The team had set a goal of $5,500 because that's about the average amount of money needed to have a wish granted, Carfantan has been told.

The RCMP contingent turned in a time of 17 hours and 22 minutes, placing them 23rd among 35 teams in a division for teams with both male and female runners.

"We did well," Carfantan said. "It wasn't extremely hot, but it was very windy."

Personally, Carfantan said it was a great experience.

"My leg went very well," he said, adding that he was on a eight-and-a-half-minute-mile pace over his six-mile stretch. "It was a small victory for me. That and surviving."

Not everyone fared as well. Several runners were carted off by ambulance due to dehydration and one of Carfantan's teammates had an unexpected hurdle along the route -- he had to jump over some snakes on the road.

"But there were no major catastrophes," Carfantan said.

No major catastrophes and no declaration of bankruptcy in Vegas.

"I spent a grand total of 50 cents gambling -- two pulls on the slot machine -- and I lost it all," Carfantan laughed.