The Poker Cutter Rally For Cancer committee was all smiles as they presented a cheque for $23,126.39 to Stephanie Munro, CEO of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation. Funds were raised through the 19th annual rally, held at the Lloyd Ex. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
The 19th annual Poker Cutter Rally For Cancer was another resounding success with a total of $28,908.09 raised, a significant increase over last year.
This year’s rally, held at the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association, saw 24 teamsters on their cutters, 10 horse-back riders, 27 paid participants, 165 ghost hand buyers, as well as 150 passengers who all enjoyed a great day on the trail.
As in year’s past, funds from the 2023 rally will support the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (LRHF).
The foundation received a total of $23,126.39 with $14,453.39 going to the Professional Development Bursary for Nurses to continue their education in Oncology/Cancer care.
The remaining $8,673 will go into an endowment fund to be used for future new equipment purchases.
“It was a strong event and a strong fundraiser for our objectives,” said co-chair Mike Sidoryk.
“We started an endowment fund last year and that will keep our Cutter Rally for Cancer in memory forever with this new program.”
Tammy Hampel co-chaired the event with Sidoryk and explained it all started 19 years ago after the East West chapter of the Alberta Carriage Driving Association lost a member to cancer, and they wanted to give back.
Hampel also explained another reason the club started this event almost 20 years ago was to pull to horse and driving community together.
“We felt this was a good way of bringing out all the people we know who drive, but don’t necessarily drive competitively or want to be part of an organization, but would show up to something like this as a one-time deal.”
For those still wondering, Hampel explained a ‘Cutter’ is a horse-drawn piece of equipment with one set of runners underneath it.
“It’s (event) is much like a quad rally,” said Hampel. “We have five checkpoints people will go through, we have a set of dice they’ll roll, highest roll overall wins the grand prize, which is a choice of the cutter, cash, or harness.”
For Stephanie Munro, CEO of the LRHF, funds are always appreciated and needed.
“It’s simply amazing,” she said. “Year after year, the Cutter Rally for Cancer committee of volunteers work so hard to be able to give this donation to the health foundation to enhance the chemotherapy and cancer department within the Lloydminster Hospital, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all of their contributions over the years.
“(From the) different equipment they’ve purchased, and now with the ongoing bursary and scholarships, they’re going to make a huge difference for the professional development and for our nurses within that department.”
As far as fundraising efforts go, the rally’s organizing committee noted a new corporate donor program helped bring in $18,790. The banquet’s silent auction brought in $6,330, the 50/50 added $849, POP IT FOR PERRY brought in $1,250, and the new 1/4 beef raffle raised $2,000 in new funds.
Mark your calendars as the 20th annual Poker Cutter Rally For Cancer returns to the Lloyd Ex on Feb. 24, 2024. See you on the trails!
