Women with roots in Castor and Stettler teamed up to raise a few thousand dollars in the annual MS bike tour last month from Leduc to Camrose.
“We raised about $4,000,” said Donna Howe, mother of members of the local team.
Leanne Lougheed (Howe) of Stettler, Jill Howe of Sylvan Lake, Erin Howe of Edmonton, Lauren Saruga (Potter) of Halkirk and friend Jolene Marks of Edmonton were among 2,000 riders in the 185-kilometre tour for two days in mid-June.
“Erin, Jill, Leanne and Lauren all grow up and attended school in Castor, and Jolene is a friend of Leanne’s who just wanted to help in our cause,” Howe said.
Other than asking for donations, the team also raised funding through bottle drives and baked and sold cupcakes.
“I was diagnosed with MS in 2003, and since then, my three daughters and I, along with other family and friends, have participated in events to raise funds for a cure for this disease, which not only affects me but also other members of our community,” Howe said.
They have walked as Team “Howe’s Hikers” in the MS walks and a few years ago, the daughters decided to ride in the MS bike tour as Team “Howe’s Bikers.”
“It was a busy few years trying to do both,” Howe said. “Now we just concentrate on the bike tour.”
The Howe sisters’ daughters have ridden in the Bike Tour four times.
“I was at the finish line proudly cheering and clapping,” Howe said.
“As for the riders, while they enjoyed the ride, they were all a little tired, but even with their quite tender bottoms, they were all planning for next year’s ride.”
Howe and the team thank everyone who helped support them with donations.