Local as well as visiting off-highway vehicle enthusiasts recently had an opportunity to ride a challenging course and face some technical terrain for a good cause.
The Sundre Fire Rescue Society's 25th annual ATV Poker Run fundraising rally for the fire department was held earlier this month west of town. More than 500 people are estimated to have attended, although registrations included plenty of passengers who came along for a ride in a quad or side-by-side, an organizer said.
"We probably had one of the better turnouts that we've ever had. I was very impressed," said Fire chief Marty Butts about attendance for the milestone anniversary of the event, which raised shy of $12,000.
"That'll go right back into the Sundre Fire Department as needed," he told the Round Up last week during a phone interview.
One of the department's main fundraisers of the year, the rally offers people a fun day and a chance to win prizes while at the same time providing additional revenue to improve financial flexibility, he said, adding existing budgets don't always accommodate everything on the wish list.
And as Sundre's volunteer firefighters respond not only to structure fires and motor vehicle collisions but also outback rescue, river extrications, and of course wildland fires, the list of tools that help to respond as effectively as possible grows quickly.
"We have a big area out there," he said, adding that translates to the need for a wide variety of rescue equipment.
"Just because of where we live, that takes a bit of extra training and specialized gear."
Thermal imaging cameras, for example, provide a priceless time-saving means to assist firefighters who are searching for a person lost in the dark ó perhaps ejected in a field at night as a result of a collision ó or someone who has collapsed from smoke inhalation in a burning building. Thanks to ongoing fundraising efforts, the department now has three heat-sensing units after getting the first about a decade ago, he said.
"Technology's come a long ways. There's a lot of cool stuff out there that can benefit the department, make the job safer and help the person who needs it."
Of course all equipment, some of which can be costly, eventually needs to be replaced. So to reduce as much as possible the amount requested of taxpayers, every effort is made to offset costs and supplement the budget through events like the poker run, he said.
And aside from generating revenue and making possible the acquisition of high-tech tools, funds raised above and beyond the fixed budget also help to cover the costs of additional training, he said.
"There's a list a mile long ó got to keep people sharp."
Helping to make that possible are partners such as West Fraser Mills, which has throughout the years made available lumber for the rally to build along the trail bridges over water that government regulations require to approve the event, he said.
"I'm very proud of the support we get from the community," said Sundre's top firefighter, expressing gratitude for prize donations and contributions as well as the support of all the participants in the poker run as well as other fundraisers.
