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Charity Expeditions in the North
in 2000
by Murray Lundberg
As the number of events being conducted to raise funds increases dramatically every year, so does the desire to do something "different" to attract attention. And when the term "different" is mentioned, the Far North is often one of the first places discussed.
Update 2002 - although the Web sites for these expeditions are disappearing, I'll keep the list up here for reference.
- Ride For Rotary - on April 28, 2000, Kevin Haverland and Orville Steen left Tok, Alaska on a mission to raise $5-6 million dollars to fund the Rotary Foundation of Canada's Polio Plus vaccination program around the world. While one of the men, both in their 50s, pedals a bicycle, the other drives a motorhome behind. They visited Anchorage and Fairbanks before heading east, with the eventual destination being St. John's, Newfoundland. They expect to be there on June 24th. Progress reports are on the site.
- Around the World in 80 Days Marathon - on May 1st 2000, 56 vintage cars left London, England, headed around the world. Driving a 1962 Austin Healey 3000, Peter and Ann Hunt are raising money for the Children's Hospice Association Scotland. Their route in North America route takes them through Tok, Dawson City, Whitehorse, Watson Lake, Terrace, Smithers, Prince George, Kamloops and Banff. Progress reports are very sparse except to sponsors, but on May 25 they had gotten through Uzbekistan.
June 16 update by Murray - I encountered the rally on the North Klondike Highway today. To say that these drivers have made themselves unwelcome in the Yukon is an understatement. Some of the drivers are not the least bit interested in the fact that driving like 16-year-old drunks may get somebody killed. Last year, allowing a rally sponsored by Fulda Tires into the Yukon had the same results. This sort of behaviour by guests in my country is completely unacceptable.- Ride for Hope - on June 8, Ottawa grandmother Karen MacKay leaves on a 3,500-km bicycle journey from Inuvik to Calgary in aid of autism research. She expects to be in Calgary September 1st. Regular updates will be posted on her site.
- St. Roch II - on July 1, 2000, this RCMP patrol vessel leaves Vancouver on a 22,000-mile circumnavigation of North America, including transit of the Northwest Passage. With her Voyage of Rediscovery, the 21-metre vessel will become the smallest ship to sail around the continent, and one of fewer than 30 surface ships to make the voyage. Funds raised will go to support the maintenance of the St. Roch, now housed at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. More information on that ship is available here.
