8th Annual ThunderRun Roaring Success
Posted by Grace Fika
The 8th Annual FSJ Sunrise Rotary Alaska Highway ThunderRun was a roaring success during the Canada Day weekend. Chair of the event, Kerri Laurin, announced this week that overall event revenues were at a record level. "The money raised will really help the Rotary Club to meet its program goals this year."
The annual ThunderRun celebrates the love of riding with family fun and giving back to the community. The actual official ride took place between Dawson Creek and Fort St John on Sunday July 2. Organizers estimate that over 300 bikes were in the ride which finished with a roar down 100th Street. Other events included a poker ride sponsored by Crown Royal, the CNRL show and shine, a bike-skills rodeo and a pig roast.
Leading up to the ThunderRun the Sunrise Rotary Club ran its 8th annual raffle. This year the prize was a 2006 Harley-Davidson Ultra Glide with an estimated value of $32,000. This raffle had as its charity the Fort St John Women's Resource Centre. "The final audit of the numbers has not yet been completed, but we expect that the Women's Centre will likely receive slightly more than $12,000 from the raffle" said Club Treasurer, Rick Kolter.
The draw for the bike took place at the end of the ThunderRun at the Mackenzie Inn. An exited crowd looked on as Miles Long from Standard Radio announced this year's winner, Bill Reimer. Second prize was an authentic Harley-Davidson leather jacket, and was won by local realtor, Trevor Bolin.
"The money we raise from this event helps us deliver our program both here in Fort St John and abroad" explained Club President, Scott Wisdahl. "Some of our projects this year are a Trails Project around the toboggan hill, sending young people to training programs and a project to assist communities in Central America. Three months ago we assisted in transporting a fire truck donated by Fort St John to the town of San Pedro Sula in Honduras."
Planning is underway for the 9th Annual ThunderRun. Lynada Thompson will be taking over as chairperson from long-time organizer Kerri Laurin. "We are looking forward to working with all our sponsors to make next year's Run an even bigger success." Said Lynada "We are hoping to add more family events this year"
ThunderRun is open to all riders and all makes and styles of bike. The picture is of the rider who travelled the longest distance to attend - Jim Bohanan from Arizona.