Sometime tonight, ten women will arrive in Hudson Bay on snowmobiles after riding over 1,700 km in eight days.
Their aim is simple - to bring an end to cancer.
Founded in 2000, Prairie Women on Snowmobiles has raised over $1.4 million for breast cancer research, as well as raising awareness of the importance of early detection.
Every year, ten women brave the winter landscape of Saskatchewan for their cause.
The first leg of the journey took the women from Meadow Lake to North Battleford. Along the way, they were followed by more than 20 snowmobilers, who came to show their support.
In North Battleford, a well-attended banquet, raffle and silent auction was held at the Western Development Museum.
Norsask was one of the major sponsors, storing the sleds, donating items for the silent auction and even sponsoring the guest speaker, Roughrider Marcus Adams, whose mother has breast cancer.
Adams congratulated the women on their dedication to the cause.
"I will never complain about playing in cold weather again," he said. "Ya'll put us to shame."
Although Adams elicited quite a few laughs from the audience - revealing an embarrassing nickname and sharing his thoughts on the Allouettes - his speech took on a somber tone when he spoke of his mother's experience with cancer.
"She's the most important woman in my life," said Adams. "She sacrificed so much for me and my brothers."
Tears were also shed during the introduction of 2011's Prairie Women, as each of the women shared stories of despair, courage and loss.
Debbie Oborowsky, who lives in Meota, is riding for the first time with the Prairie Women on Snowmobiles.
Oborowsky is riding for her mother-in-law, a breast cancer survivor, her mother, who is currently fighting cancer and in memory of Janice Esquirol, a friend who passed away.
At the end of the introductions, cancer survivors were invited to come to the front and receive a special pin. To much applause, Oborowsky's mother-in-law, Bernice, was the first survivor to stand and be recognized.
Bernice said she was proud of Oborowsky for taking part in the journey, adding, "It's really
Oborowsky, who enjoys snowmobiling, first heard of the Prairie Women when a friend invited her to one of their functions.
"I was so impressed," she said. "I knew it was something I wanted to get involved in."
Other speakers at the event included Ray Fox, on behalf of the City, and Ray Oleshko, who volunteered mere minutes before the banquet began when emcee was a no-show.
Oleshko had the crowd laughing a number of times and interacted with Adams as though they were a well-seasoned comedy duo.
The event was organized by father-daughter team, Doug and Bobbi Noble of the Battlefords Trailbreakers snowmobile club.
For more information about the Prairie Women on Snowmobiles, or to make a donation, visit www.prairiewomen.ca.
