Participants had the opportunity to ride a bike or walk on the trail Sunday afternoon (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Hot hand

Local union raises money for burn fund

Sep 22, 2019 | 2:35 PM

A local emergency services union had people riding to support a cause Sunday.

The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 5094, which is made up of staff at the provincial emergency communications centre, put on a Pedal Bike Poker Rally. It served as a fundraiser to support the Saskatchewan Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association Burn Fund.

Caroline Litwin, president of the IAFF Local, said the event Sunday was a debut of sorts for the organization.

“We are brand new as a union, we just became a union two years ago, this is our very first fundraising effort,” she said.

Organizers set up a seven-kilometer course along the Rotary Trail. Participants were given the option to ride or walk. As they made their way around the course, they would come across different stations where they’d receive a playing card. At the end, the people with the best hands had the chance to win prizes. A circuit around the course cost $2 and there was no limit to how times a person could go around.

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Litwin said they decided to do the poker rally while the seasonal weather was still good. She said similar events have been done by other groups in the past, but they involved people riding ATVs and snowmobiles.

The union president said the burn fund is a good cause for them to support as it is an initiative that has been set up by the provincial professional firefighters and paramedics association and provides an important service.

Litwin added putting on a fundraiser like this is also a good way for the dispatchers to reach out to the community

“We really just want to kind of get our name out there and let people know we’re here,” she said.

Caroline Litwin at the registration tent Sunday afternoon (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn