Dave Ogilvie
It may have been cold but morale was high as 28 people from Fort Frances to Rainy River took off from the Rejuvenate Fitness Club in Emo on Saturday at 9 a.m. for the third-annual 5K walk/run in conjunction with Spring Fever Days.
The oldest participant was in her 70s and the youngest (in a stroller) was pushed along by a running mom. The turnout was great this year, with many more runners and walkers taking part.
Moms and daughters, fathers and sons, grandmas and grandsons all participated in this year’s family affair, which raised $270 for the Emo spray park.
Sharon Joskow, a newcomer to Emo, was the winner of a free one-year membership to Rejuvenate.
There is still one half-year membership, and many other discounts, to be given away to anyone buying a new membership or renewing it before May 15. Call Gaydonna at 482-3271 for more info.
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Becky Holden and Gaydonna Baker are organizing a fitness class. More information will be available in the near future.
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More than 40 attended this month’s men’s breakfast at the Emo Legion, which was held during Spring Fever Days.
Those on hand had the opportunity to meet and listen to Arvid Loewen, an incredibly inspirational and motivating speaker. He resigned from his job of 31 years with Palliser to put all his efforts into creating awareness and raising funds for a street rescue mission in Kenya, Africa.
The Kenyan charity, called “Mully’s Children Family,” rescues children who have been abandoned and forced to live on the streets.
For the past 30 months, Loewen has been entering cycling races in Canada and the United States, and using this passion for cycling to promote his mission of raising funds for this marvelous charity.
This summer, this ultra-marathon cyclist plans on cycling 500 km/day for 23 days in Bird’s Hill Park, northeast of Winnipeg (18-20 hour/day), with the goal of paying for food for the 2,013 children in the program for one year through financial contributions to Mully Children’s Family Charitable Foundation (http://www.mcfcf.ca/)
A donation of $100 pays for the food for one child for one year, which MCF cannot grow on its own.
If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, you can do so online or simply send a cheque payable to MCFC (memo line “Tour for Life”) to SpokeImpact/MCFCF, Box 35027 RPO Henderson, Winnipeg, Man., R2K 4J9.
You can follow the progress of this inspiring cyclist, watch the donations grow, and meet the children by going to www.spokeimpact.com and clicking on “Tour for Life.”
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The Emo Legion’s annual Good Friday fish fry was a huge success this year, with an amazing 361 people served.
Thanks to everyone from across the district for supporting the Legion.
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Cpl. Danielson, with the reserve unit in Kenora, sends her regrets as they were unable to attend Spring Fever Days in Emo due to a last-minute change in plans.
Anyone interested in the reserves still can get in touch with them by calling 1-866-GO-2-ARMY (1-866-462-2769).
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Last Tuesday (April 14), Donald Young School here in Emo hosted the Vocal Division of the 69th Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts. The morning session consisted of eight choirs from five district schools.
Donald Young School’s Grade 3-8 group, under the direction of Katherine Williams, presented “Oh, the Things You Can Think” from “Seussical the Musical.”
Classroom choruses and choirs from Robert Moore School, Huffman School, Riverview School, and Nestor Falls School rounded out the morning’s performances.
The afternoon session then consisted of sacred solos, traditional folk songs, an original composition, and a medley of familiar songs on vocal and harmonica by Jade Green.
Congratulations to all the choirs, teachers, and individuals for entering and supporting the district’s “Festival of the Performing Arts,” as well as for their marvelous performances.
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Guthrie United Church’s “Spring Fling” and auction, which was held this past Sunday (April 19) from 2-4 p.m. in the Devlin Hall, was extremely successful. Extra tables were set up to accommodate the large number of people who attended.
Baking, which was on sale prior to the live auction, disappeared quickly. The penny table was another highlight of the afternoon, especially with the children.
Jack Fiset donated his time to act as auctioneer and did an excellent job coaxing people to open up their wallets for the cause. Several items were in hot demand, including a Webkinz monkey, which eventually was won by Carter Robinson, who outlasted several others with a bid of $35.
His brother, Cohen, also was a lucky winner, taking home the children’s door prize, which was a Webkinz puppy.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the afternoon of coffee, tea, desserts, friendly bidding, and visiting with friends from across the district.
Members of the Devlin congregation who organized the event would like to thank everyone for making this year’s “Spring Fling” such a success.
