The Two Miles for Mary annual radiothon brought in more than $16,000 Friday morning. (submitted photo/Community Service Centre)

By Teena Monteleone

Two Miles for Mary fundraiser keeps rolling

Sep 25, 2020 | 1:29 PM

A radiothon on Saskatchewan Country CKBI to raise funds for senior’s transportation in Prince Albert netted ‘Two Miles for Mary’ more than $16,000 Friday morning.

The program offers seniors an affordable option by charging a base fare of just $5. It is operated by the Prince Albert Community Service Centre and receives annual funding from the City of Prince Albert. Other than fare revenue, the radiothon is the only other source of income.

“This morning went fairly well considering we’re going through the COVID pandemic,” CEO of the Community Service Centre, Bill Powalinsky said. “We’re always grateful for the support the city and residents have for our seniors.”

Among the donors was the Prince Albert Fire Fighters Charity which submitted a cheque for $1,500. Spokesperson David MacAuley said they’ve been supporting the Two Miles for Mary radiothon for years.

“It’s one of those things that hits close to home. You see the [Two Miles for Mary] vehicle driving around town and it has our charity logo on it. So, we like to donate because we see the impact it has on the community every single day,” MacAuley said. “These fundraisers are needed to keep these costs low so it’s an affordable thing for people who need it.”

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Last year alone, the program provided 7,692 trips for seniors in total including 74 medical charters to Saskatoon. Clients generally use the service to attend medical appointments, to go shopping or for social visits.

While Powalinsky said the funds raised will go a long way in helping to keep the operation running, the total hasn’t been as high as in previous years which means they’ll have to look at other forms of fundraising or reserves to offset the operating costs.

“This year our fare revenue is down because of COVID and fundraising is also down. But we’ve also had to lay off drivers because the work slowed down. So, we’ll see where everything averages out by year end,” he said.

In an effort to continue raising money, donations to Two Miles For Mary can continue to be made until Dec. 31 through the Community Service Centre or residents can choose to donate proceeds through Sarcan’s drop and go recycling program.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow