OPTA Pink Warrior Run raises over $10,000 

Tim Brody - Editor

The Ojibway Power Toboggan Association’s (OPTA) Pink Warrior Run has raised $10,400 for the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre Foundation (SLMHCF) for a new mammography machine for the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) as well as general health care services provided by SLMHC. 
“We had 24 snowmobile riders and we had 30 people join us for High Tea in Hudson,” said OPTA Events Coordinator Corrie Strating. 
Participants snowmobiled to Hudson for the tea and back to the OPTA Clubhouse, however the event was also set up so that people without snowmobiles could also join in the fundraising event by car or truck.
Participants came from Sioux Lookout, Ignace, and Emo.
A silent auction, 50/50 draw, and ticket raffle contributed to the total raised with Sioux Lookout resident Carly Collins winning the event’s grand prize, a trip for two for a Fort Garry Hotel experience.
This was the first time the OPTA has run the event and Strating said, “We’re pretty excited. Positive outlook. We hope to do more again next year. We’re really excited that everybody came out to support a great cause and to support all the women who are fighting breast cancer and survivors as well.”
She continued, “The whole goal for the ride was to raise money for the mammogram machine as well as biopsy clinics, breast cancer clinics. People come from all over for these clinics here to Sioux Lookout, so we just wanted to be able to provide the hospital with any extra funds that they may need to purchase supplies, as well we wanted to raise awareness of the importance of getting yourself checked early.”
Strating, as well as OPTA President Dean Osmond, thanked sponsors, participants, and everyone who supported the event.
“We couldn’t have done this today without our sponsors. We had so many. It was fabulous. Our community is incredible for supporting such a great cause,” Strating said.