The Bikers Against Diabetes (BAD) continued to help local youths fighting the disease during their annual motorcycle rodeo Saturday afternoon at the area northeast of Bienfait they have christened as Stanley Park.
Shawn Vermeeren, who is the president of the BAD Crew, said it was a fun day with plenty of socializing and motorcycle games.
The number of participants was consistent with past years, as about 40 bikes passed through the gate and about 140 people were registered.聽
Vermeeren said they didn鈥檛 raise as much money as they have in the past, which he chalked up to the state of the economy, but they still generated enough revenues to send at least four kids to a camp through the Canadian Diabetes Association.
鈥淲ith future fundraising later this year, we might get that up to eight,鈥� said Vermeeren.
The games happened for much of the afternoon. Crowd favourites include the keg role, the slow race, jousting and the wiener bite. Some of the games were two-person events that tested skill and timing, and others were individual races.
鈥淭hose are pretty much favourites that everybody likes,鈥� said Vermeeren.
Several vendors were on hand throughout the day. Much of the merchandise was for bikers, but other items were also available.
The camp is located at Christopher Lake in northern Saskatchewan. The location changed recently, but Vermeeren said it鈥檚 still a great time for children.
鈥淭hese Type 1 diabetic children get to spend a week in a camp environment around all Type 1 diabetic children, whether they鈥檙e using insulin pumps or injections, or are able to be medicated by pills, every child who is at the camp has the same problems.鈥�
Those children face peer pressure and other challenges, so they get to be themselves for the week.
鈥淚n a couple of the camp visits that I鈥檝e done, it seems like everybody really enjoys themselves for that week. Even the staff and the volunteers who are putting things on seem to come home quite happy about the whole thing.鈥�
A final tally for how much money was raised hasn鈥檛 been released.
The BAD members aren鈥檛 finished with their events for the year. They are involved with the Ride for Sight, in which they raise money to combat blindness, and they will have a set of rodeo games at an event in Montmartre this summer.
