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Biker cops raise money for blind kids Military, friends and motorcycle enthusiasts take part in national relay
Candace Thomson
Northern News Services
Published Tuesday, August 20, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Seven Canadian Forces members left Yellowknife on bikes Saturday to represent the NWT in the Military Police National Motorcycle Relay Ride.
Warrant Officer Robert Irwin of the military police organized the first-ever Yellowknife team for the Military Police National Motorcycle Relay Ride last year, and helped to organize this year's event, which he hoped would raise several thousand dollars for the Military Police Fund for Blind Children. - Candace Thomson/NNSL photo
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The ride is in its fifth year of raising money through pledges and private donations for the Military Police Fund for Blind Children. Military members, their friends and family, and those who just enjoy going on long motorcycle trips are welcome to join the event and raise money.
This year marks the second that a group of Northerners have joined. Last year, the Yellowknife team raised more than $5,000 in a matter of weeks, all of which went to the fund.
"The whole ride is on our own expense, none of the proceeds go to the expenses of the trip," said Warrant Officer Glenn Rowlandson of the 440 Transport Squadron in Yellowknife, one of the organizers of this year's event.
"Everything goes to the charity, which is run by volunteers so it's maximum benefit to the charity."
Rowlandson said the team had raised more than $1,000 before they left and were hoping to pick up more money along the way.
"We have sponsors in Grand Prairie who have already done fundraising on our behalf, so we're expecting several thousand," he said.
The riders covered 3,500 km of highway with stops in the Alberta communities of High Level, Grande Prairie, Rocky Mountain House and Peace River before meeting up with the Alberta and B.C. teams in Jasper, Alta., on Tuesday.
The three teams are then expected to meet up with the national team, which left Sydney, N. S. on Aug. 5 to ride across the country. The entire group then plans to head down to the Icefields Parkway towards Banff.
The Yellowknife team was planning to raise awareness of the blind fund, the ride, and the military community in Yellowknife as they travel to meet the national team.
"We're proud to carry on raising money for children and passing the word wherever we go," Rowlandson said.
There was some speculation as to whether the ride would happen for Yellowknife this year as Warrant Officer Robert Irwin, who spearheaded the Yellowknife team last year, was in the midst of retiring after 25 years of service in the Canadian Forces.
NWT Commissioner George Tuccaro was at the Joint Task Force North (JTFN) headquarters on Saturday morning to thank Irwin for his service on behalf of the NWT and to send the riders off on their route with a prayer.
"I think the people that travel throughout Canada raising funds for certain causes are very noble, and I really support them in that," said Tuccaro. "And I knew (Irwin) was leaving and thought it was a good opportunity to say a proper goodbye."
Also in attendance was Mayor Mark Heyck and Capt. (Navy) Derek Moss, deputy commander of JTFN.
The relay is attempting to beat the Guinness World Record for longest motorcycle relay as a team in the world, and according to Irwin, they have a good chance.
The current record is held by Simon and Monika Newbound who crossed 50 countries and covered more than 168,800 km across the U.K. and Europe in May 2002.
"It's going to take a few weeks after we get back to do all of the logistics but from what (Guinness) is saying, we're well over the current record," Irwin said.
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