Motorcycle enthusiasts from across the Lakeland hit the highway with a cause in their minds and in their hearts.
A group of local bikers hosted the first Ride for Sight in the northern Alberta area on Saturday, July 7.
Brian Fitzpatrick, the chairman of the Northern Alberta Ride for Sight, organized the event after being involved with the organization for nearly 30 years. He wanted to bring the cause to the Lakeland.
“Lots of people over the years have asked why it hasn’t been at Cold Lake before,” he explained. “People needed an excuse to come out here, and I finally gave them a reason to visit.”
Fitzpatrick sees the Ride for Sight as a good cause, and 100 per cent of what’s raised through the ride goes to the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB).
While the event didn’t see as much foot traffic as Fitzpatrick hoped, it managed to raise over $10,000. Even though the ride has come and gone, they’re still accepting donations online.
“You can still go to the Ride for Sight website to donate, or donate through me. I’m attending a ride in Bragg Creek on July 22,” detailed Fitzpatrick.
The day wasn’t just filled with revving engines, there was also a pancake breakfast, and a poker run.
“They left the ag grounds (in Cold Lake) and went to Bonnyville, then to La Corey, to the marina parking lot in Cold Lake north, and all the way back here,” Fitzpatrick explained.
Michelle Carter, a Cold Lake rider, said she was happy to see the support from the local communities when they drove through.
“When we got to the four corners of Bonnyville, a guy at the four corners stopped and waved the whole group through so we didn’t have to stop. We got a lot of looks, trucks honking their horns, and a lot of respect as we went,” she explained.
The top fundraiser of the event was Cliff Lastiwka, who had travelled from Whitecourt to take part in the ride. He has been involved with Ride for Sight for 10 years, and raised over $7,000 this time around.
“I want to thank all the people who were kind enough to donate,” he said. “It’s tough times out there, and those that could donate did. While those that couldn’t donate, wanted to.”
Participants were glad to see Ride for Sight come to the Lakeland, and are hoping they will get a chance to participate again in the future.
“There are a lot of people in the area that do ride, and it’s a worthy event to be involved in,” Carter said.
After the poker run, motorcyclists competed against one another in a couple of games.
Ride for Sight was originally only for motorcyclists raising funds for blindness, but the events were opened to the communities to help with fundraising.
“The events opened to the public, opened to motorcycle riders, everybody is welcome and we’re really trying to get the community involved,” Fitzpatrick said.
Ride for Sight is celebrating their 40th year fundraising for FFB, and have donated over $20-million during that time. FFB is Canada’s largest charitable organization raising funds for vision research, and there’s no government funding for eye research.
Those looking to donate can go to www.rideforsight.com.
