There aren’t many people who would welcome temperatures of -25° C—but most people aren’t quadding in January to raise money for a homeless shelter.
“(This year), it was about -27° C when we left,” said Ken Krahn, “but the sun came out and weather-wise, it was probably the best year we’ve had. The first year was -35° C, the second year was -44° C and last year -25° C, but the sun wasn’t out.”
For the past four years, Krahn has raised money for Fort McMurray’s Centre of Hope, a shelter that gives the city’s homeless population food, clothing and a place to stay. He and two friends travel from Fort McMurray to Fort Smith, N.W.T.,—a distance of 423 kilometres—on their quads.
“I’d seen more homeless people and I knew they needed money,” he said. “I thought, ‘Well, what can I do to raise some funds?”
An exciting prospect Having previously accompanied a friend motorcycling to Fort Chipewyan to raise money for a local high school, Krahn got the idea to do something similar on an ATV.
“I asked him if he’d mind if we I did this with quads for other fundraising,” said Krahn. “He didn’t, so we decided we’d go straight to Fort Smith, N.W.T.”
The group is accompanied by three trucks along the way. The trucks alert motorists to watch for ATVs with flashing lights and signs, but they also serve another purpose.
“We have to get a permit because we’re going through Wood Buffalo National Park,” he said. “(We’re granted the) permit but we can only have three quads and it’s only one-way. We can ride up and we have to put the quads on trucks to bring them back home.”
In the four years that they have been making the trek, Krahn has raised around $70,000. He said that he plans on making the journey for many years to come. Those wanting to contact Krahn to donate or find out more can email him at [email protected].
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