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

By Ian Gustafson

Helping Seniors

Two Miles for Mary Radiothon fundraiser Friday will run differently this year

Sep 24, 2020 | 3:14 PM

The annual Two Miles for Mary Radiothon Friday morning will look a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s no food or on-location activity, but the important goal stays the same.

Each year this event is put on to raise money for the senior’s transportation program which provides seniors an affordable option of transportation through the Prince Albert and District Community Service Centre.

“The fundraiser is to put gas in the tank for the senior’s transportation program, there’s no better way to put it,” said CEO of the Community Service Centre, Bill Powalinsky.

Normally the event would be held at the Seniors Heritage Centre for a continental community breakfast but that element can’t happen.

This year the Radiothon will happen virtually, from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Friday with volunteers set up in a boardroom taking phone calls from people who want to donate. The on-air announcers on 900 CKBI will not be on location but will be broadcasting from the station.

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Those who want to donate can call 306-763-MARY (6279). Donations will also be accepted at SARCAN until the end of the year. At the drop and go there is an option to donate the returned money. Also until Dec. 31, the Community Service Centre will be accepting donations through their regular office number at 953-4460.

“We’ll never turn away a donation,” Powalinsky said.

He added a lot of seniors no longer drive and some have issues accessing or getting to the city buses and so this program offers safe, efficient, and affordable way to get around. The centre charges $5 per trip.

They don’t have a goal in mind for the fundraiser but said if someone wanted to fill their tank up for the week it would cost $50.

“We did just under 8,000 trips last year and just under 80 trips to Saskatoon for the medical charter,” he explained. “So, you take a look at the utilization and that’s a good number of trips on a weekly basis.”

“We really appreciate the support the community has shown towards their seniors in the past and we really hope that they can find a way to make a contribution no matter how big or small it is.”

Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Program Director Danny Kid said 900 CKBI has been doing the radiothon for over 30 years now and it’s a great cause.

“Providing affordable transportation for our seniors, especially during COVID that’s so important,” Kid said. “Obviously, this is a big deal because it provides such a vital service to our seniors. We’re really excited to be a part of it, it’s obviously really important to us as a station being a part of the community.”

Editor’s note: 900 CKBI is part of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, as is paNOW.

Ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow