THUNDER BAY — Without its annual Spring into Summer draw, the local St. John Ambulance chapter would be hard-pressed to provide a full slate of service in the Thunder Bay area.
Thankfully, said executive director Diana Sustawenko, it’s proven pretty popular over the past 14 years. Year 15, however, is bringing a slight change.
The winner of the grand prize, a 26-foot Coachman Catalina Summit Series 261BHS Bunkhouse travel trailer, will have the option to take the prize as is or take $40,000 in cash.
“We found that some people found the trailer was too big to tow. Others, when they won it, figured maybe they were going to sell it,” Susatawenko said. “This year it will be up to the winner, what they choose to do.”
The grand prize is provided by Recreation World.
Second and third-place prizes are also pretty great, she added.
The second prize is two P2000i Power portable generators, worth $2,260, courtesy of J&J Sports, and the third prize is an $1,100 Pelican Strike Angler fishing kayak and a $500 Canadian Tire gift card.
“It’s some pretty good prizes,” Sustawenko said.
Unquestionably the draw is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
“If it wasn’t for this draw, we wouldn’t be able to keep up with the services we provide in the community, which is our medical first response team, our youth program, our therapy dog volunteers, and our car-seat education program,” Sustawenko said.
“There’s lots of good services we provide to the community, mostly free of charge, and this is where the revenue comes in to help the programs become sustainable.”
Tickets, limited to 6,000, are $20 apiece this year, the increase needed to cover the growing costs to put on the draw, and are available at the St. John Ambulances office on Fort William Road, or online at https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/sja-thno.
Early bird draws for stays at Kashabowie River Resort and KOA Thunder Bay, as well as a fishing package and a $100 gift certificante for Chaltrek Work and Play Outdoors, will be held on April 26. The main draw is on June 28.
