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2 Miles for Mary broadcast raises thousands for P.A. senior transportation

Oct 2, 2015 | 12:47 PM

The annual 2 Miles for Mary fundraising radio broadcast and breakfast, benefiting the Prince Albert Seniors Transportation Program, finished up another successful year at 9 a.m. Friday morning.

The fundraising broadcast went live on 900 CKBI from the Kinsmen Community Heritage Centre and managed to raise a total of $23,639 within two hours.

Giving seniors access to affordable door-to-door service, charging $5 for trips within the city, can help Prince Albert seniors maintain their independence.

Over 200 seniors rely on the service, which has been providing rides since 1976. Yearly, they give over 6,000 rides, and have to turn away almost 500 more due to popularity of the service and scheduling conflicts.

The 2 Miles for Mary fundraiser provides a large portion of the funds needed to continue transporting local seniors to various appointments, doctor visits, Walmart or, when needed, even Saskatoon.

Every year a ‘Mary’ is chosen from the group of seniors who use the program as a spokesperson for the fundraiser.

This year’s ‘Mary’ was Eleanor George, 79, who has lived in Prince Albert for 65 years and still resides in her own home.

She is very enthusiastic about the Seniors Transportation Program which she’s relied on for the past two years, due to health complications. George can no longer drive and uses the service to go to exercise classes and various appointments.

“I go to Walmart for groceries, I go to the doctor’s office frequently, I go to the best yarn shop, wherever I need to go,” she said.

The senior’s transportation service works to help Prince Albert seniors who would otherwise be forced to stay home, rely on friends or family members for transportation or be forced to regularly call taxis.

George said the Seniors Transportation Program is crucial for her, and many others.

“You can see how many Mary’s are (at the Heritage Centre) and it’s their lifeline to everything,” said George. “A lot of them come here to the senior’s centre and get picked up at the end of the afternoon, and really, it is a line that we need, or we would be stuck at home more than we are.”  

All the money from the Friday morning fundraiser goes towards the Seniors Transportation Program.

The phone lines will remain open for the rest of the day and those interested can still make donations by calling 306-953-4477. 

The cars operate Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., daily.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow