Two Miles for Mary annual fundraiser held Friday morning

Marilyn Peterson, fundraising co-ordinator for Two Miles for Mary, said every year they pick a Mary.

“Every year we choose a different person from among the ridership, looking for somebody that uses the service more than once, who uses the service several times at least and talk a little bit about why they use it and how the
service works,” Peterson said.

This year’s Mary is 99-year-old Rubena Wenzel, who said she was surprised when she heard the news.

“It’s a very convenient way to get to your appointments. I use it for hair appointments; they’ll take you and when you’re finished you just call and they come back and pick you up, bring you home. They make sure you don’t fall when you get into the car and out of the car,” Wenzel said.

She said rides are only $4 each way which she finds very reasonable. “A cab is usually already passed $4 by the time they pick you up.”

It was through a friend who used the service that Wenzel first became familiar with Two Miles for Mary and now she utilizes it all the time.

“I often tell my friends ‘don’t worry just call Seniors Transportation,’” she said.

“Up until this spring I had my car, it’s a wonderful service as we get older and we are not allowed by our families to drive anymore,” Wenzel said chuckling.

“I think as people get older and don’t drive it’s a wonderful service in the city, particularly in the winter when your car is in two feet of snow and you have to go out and dig it out and get the frost off the window,” she said.

She said it’s cheaper than driving your own car because of the price of gas these days.

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid

by Sarah Wallace

Two Miles for Mary annual fundraiser held Friday morning

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