The Community Service Centre offers affordable transportation in Prince Albert. This photo was taken in a previous year. (File photo/paNOW Staff Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

Two Miles for Mary radiothon raises just over $22,000 for seniors transportation

Oct 1, 2021 | 4:00 PM

Two Miles for Mary, an annual radiothon on 900 CKBI to raise funds for seniors’ transportation in Prince Albert successfully raised $22,086 on Friday morning.

Marilyn Peterson, fundraising coordinator for the event told paNOW todays result was a success and they’re anticipating more donations in the next few weeks.

“We had a few hopes I guess for a bit higher number but there are always donations that come in after the radiothon,” she said.

They had a change of plans after the increase of COVID-19 cases in the province and new public health measures. Their public breakfast at the Heritage Centre that accompanies the radiothon was cancelled, which she said was a loss of audience.

The money is used to keep the seniors’ transportation program offered by Prince Albert Community Service Centre going in the city. She said the program has been around for an estimated 35 years. The City of Prince Albert helps to maintain the vehicles and they also receive help from other sources to change cars over after they reach a certain number of kilometres. They also rely on the fees each user of the service pays per ride.

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The service is used by the city’s seniors to get a ride to where they need to be, including medical trips around the city and also sometimes to Saskatoon, however those trips are rare.

“Most of our transportation trips are within the city for people going shopping, going to doctors, going to the bank and going to a social event,” she explained.

Peterson explained the people of Prince Albert year after year always come through with donations.

“A big thank you to CKBI that always comes through positive and cheerful and work so hard,” she said. “The volunteers we have come in to help man the phones and do the accounting. And of course, the biggest thank you to the people of Prince Albert who are just amazing year after year after year.”

CEO of the Community Service Centre, Bill Powalinsky said what the donations mean is seniors can remain involved in the community.

“The number one issue seniors identified, surprisingly enough, is transportation,” he said. “If you think about it transportation’s what gets them to their medical appointments, gets them their groceries, gets them to their family and friends in social outings.”

The program is he said is very well utilized. This past year he said they’ve done approximately 7,000 trips but that could be lower due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve had to drop their weekend service because they didn’t have the subscription for it but Powalinsky hopes to get back to normal as soon as possible.

“Just want to thank the citizens of P.A. for their generosity. We had a couple really significant donations. They were outstanding and I wish to recognize those donors,” he said.

Those who would like to donate can do so by mail or drop off at the offices of the Community Service Centre at 101 15^th St. W.

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Ian.Gustafson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @IanGustafson12