Over 37 years, the annual North Peace MS Trail Ride has raised almost $1 million for the MS Society of Canada’s North Peace Chapter. The annual trail ride which brings out hundreds of volunteers and participants from around the Peace Country and beyond have not be able to put on the event for two years due to the pandemic.
Grimshaw resident and chairperson of the North Peace Chapter MS Trail Ride, Craig Anderson has been involved in the trail ride dating back to 2004. Anderson’s wife was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993, and says “There wasn’t much to know about the disease then, so when we came home we were looking for answers and people to talk to.” Anderson says that’s when he got more involved and as time progressed he became a bigger advocate for the North Peace Chapter.
Both the 2020 and 2021’s trail rides weren’t able to go ahead due to public health restrictions, so online fundraising was the alternative. Anderson says to gather and make an event, it just wasn’t possible for the past two years. “We’ve has as high as 120 riders, we usually average 70-80 horses.” Anderson noted the high attendance of the annual event. The trail ride typically starts in Tangent Park and participants ride for about five hours circling back to the starting point to have supper, hand out prizes and give out awards.
Anderson hopes people will go a trail ride themselves in place of the annual event on June 19 and try to donate online towards the North Peace Chapter. “I was totalling it up, from the time I’ve been involved and from the records I could find, we have raised over $920,000.” Anderson says the number is really good for an organization of only ten members.
The MS Society of Canada’s North Peace Chapter is looking for volunteers and is hopeful to do the trail ride next year. To donate to the North Peace MS Society’s Chapter, click here.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
