The Community Service Centre offers affordable transportation to seniors in Prince Albert with a flat rate of $5. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Teena Monteleone

Two Miles for Mary

Radio fundraiser sets wheels in motion for senior’s transportation program

Sep 28, 2019 | 8:00 AM

Local businesses, community groups and citizens donated nearly $20,000 during the 32^nd annual Two Miles for Mary radiothon Friday morning on Saskatchewan Country CKBI.

The two-hour event is a fundraiser for the Seniors Transportation Program provided through the Community Service Centre. CEO Bill Powalinsky said the money will allow them to continue providing affordable rides to seniors at a flat rate of just $5 per trip.

“Last year we did 7,500 trips within Prince Albert and 77 medical charters to Saskatoon. The numbers just keep going up year after year,” he said.

The Seniors Transportation Program provides rides between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, but the service centre would like to extend the hours into the weekend. Eleanor George uses the service several times a week to get to her volunteer position at Mont. St. Joseph care home, exercise classes or appointments.

“When I lost my drivers license it was like losing my life because I had been so independent when I had my car,” she said. “Without this service, I don’t know what I would have done. If this service would be lost, we would be in big trouble.”

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The program is partially funded by the city of Prince Albert and uses fare revenue to help balance the books but the radiothon is a big source of income.

Saskatchewan Country CKBI helped raise nearly $20,000 for the Senior’s Transportation Program during a two-hour radiothon Friday morning at the Heritage Centre. (Teena Monteleone/paNOW Staff)

“It costs money to put gas in the tanks, so please continue to donate,” said Powalinksy. “Our campaign actually goes until December, so we’ll be making an appeal to the business community and to the citizens again to continue to support Two Miles for Mary because it does put the wheels on the senior’s transportation program.”

Donations can be made at the Community Service Centre on 15th St. W.

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Teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone