The Community Refugee Committee of St. Albert is trying to lend a helping hand to the people of the world who have fled their homelands to start new lives in the city.
Sometimes lending a helping hand means getting a bunch of people out on the trails for a bike ride. Organizers are hoping to do just that next Saturday with their first-ever Family Fun-Raiser Bike-a-thon.
Representative Roger Sims said that the group is working to build up its bank account before it can successfully sponsor a person. He said that they have made their application and that the government has already approved a person to be located here.
"They phoned us back and they said that we could have one in four weeks. That was way too quick for us because we don't have housing or anything like that," he said.
The group formed last year as a partnership between members of the St. Albert Host Lions Club and the St. Albert United Church, as well as from the community at large. It must commit to having $40,000 raised before the refugee application is finalized.
It held a fundraising concert with more than 30 performers in April. That event brought in $3,600 for the cause while an earlier event raised more than $1,500. Another concert is scheduled for Nov. 17.
As for the bike-a-thon, they're expecting a much bigger boost. Organizers are expecting anywhere from 600 to 1,000 participants, he said.
"We've got quite a bit of interest in it."
The event starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 6 on the Landrex site adjacent to Coal Mine Road in the north of the city. You can ride two, five or 10-km.
Registration is free and participants are expected to get pledges. People can sign up and find out more by searching for 'Community Refugee Committee of St. Albert' on Facebook.
More fundraising on wheels
The Bockman Foundation for Spinal Cord Injuries is also gathering momentum for its annual Wheel, Walk, or Run fundraiser in June.
Participants can sign up to cover a distance of 2.5, 5, or 10-km on foot or by wheelchair. Registration is $40 for an adult and $20 for a youth.
It starts on Sunday, June 11 at 10 a.m. from Lions Park. Visit www.bockmanfoundation.ca for more information.
Share and Wear today
The St. Albert Alliance Church is having its ever-popular free swap meet today from 10 a.m. to noon only. Twice a year, crowds of people come to collect free clothing and other household items that have been donated by the public.
The church is located west on Villeneuve Road, 25416 Secondary Hwy 633.
Visit www.staalliance.org for more.
