Prairie Women on Snowmobiles traveled through Blaine Lake Jan. 29 on their 10th annual eight-day trek through Saskatchewan.
"Prairie Women on Snowmobiles is a non-profit organization whose annual missions are provincial awareness events that are designed to focus attention on breast cancer and the recreation of snowmobiling as well as raise the much-needed funds for breast cancer research," read Jackie Toggweiler at the PWOS stopover at Gateway Grill on Main.
"PWOS has contributed 100 per cent of the funds raised in the past ten Missions for research raising more than $1.4 million to date."
The mission, consisting of a group of 10 women volunteer snowmobilers, began Jan. 28 at Meadow Lake and travelled through many communities in eight days covering approximately 1,800 kilometres before ending in Hudson Bay Feb. 4.
Riders were Barb Batdorf, Carrie Puetz, Debbie Oborowsky, Gerri Sametts, Heather Mohr, Jackie Toggweiler, Jamie Abel-Fleishhacker, Shannon Hickson, Sherrise Sametts, and Tracey Persicke. Crystal Paulson is an alternate rider.
Executive members - president Daphne Wickstrom of Wadena, vice-president Carol McKnight of Emma Lake, treasurer Brenda Zimmer of Muenster and secretary Tracey Schwebius of Wilkie - were in attendance and drove the van equipped with supplies and repairs. The pit crew of Damian Zimmer, Mike Fleischhacker and Rob MacDougall play a vital role in the success of the event as these men are responsible for maintenance and repair of the snowmobiles, as well as transporting replacement machines.
The Blaine Lake Snowdrifterz presented the PWOS with a donation of $250 plus numerous personal donations. Mil Kreger, owner of Gateway Grill, and her staff were acknowledge by the PWOS for the generous donation of lunch, before the women headed back out into the frigid temperatures hovering around - 40 C with a wind chill.
Prairie Women on Snowmobiles was formed when a breast cancer survivor asked her friend if she would snowmobile across Saskatchewan with her to raise funds for breast cancer research. Together, they planned, organized and implemented PWOS with the goal to conduct the Mission annually to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women.
