The Mountain View Colts are once again teaming up with the rural Alberta chapter of the Ride for Dad to raise money for prostate cancer research and education.
Colts General Manager Karen Rothenbusch discusses the history of their Ride for Dad charity hockey game. She says “it started out with just a conversation between Fran Murphy – a lifetime board member of the Colts – and her brother Tony Overwater, who started the Rural Alberta Motorcycle Ride for Dad along with Gil Enns. Here we are going on our 14th year of this great event and a great partnership. Fran is still very much involved now teaching others how the event is run but also still collecting silent auction items and donations. Gil is also still very involved with the Ride for Dad side of things. Tony still supports the team and Ride for Dad every year.”
Rothenbusch points out that it has been a charity that has been near and dear to the heart of Fran who lost her husband to prostate cancer. She says “in support of that, over the years we all have rallied around this great charity in support of her, her family, and the many others this has affected and will affect.”
She has a number of ‘thank yous’ to pass out ahead of this Friday’s game. Rothenbusch says “we just want to thank everyone involved for helping to make this event a great success every year. A big thank you to Allison Stoddard this year who agreed to take the lead on organizing this great event and the Red Deer Vipers also who agreed to join in with us and graciously they’re donating their next two home game 50/50 proceeds to a great cause.”
Gil Enns, One of the Co-Chairs of the Rural Alberta Chapter of the Ride for Dad, stated ahead of their event last June that the Colts have helped them contribute almost a quarter of a million dollars for the cause over the last 14 years. Over $13,000 dollars was raised for the Ride for Dad by Mountain View’s charity hockey game during the 2023-2024 HJHL season.
According to Rothenbusch, the Colts will be wearing a special third jersey for this week’s charity game and you can go on line and bid. She adds, there is also an online 50/50, a silent auction, or you can just make a monetary donation as well.
Find all of the links on the website MountainViewColts.ca or the Colts Facebook and Instagram pages.
The Heritage Junior Hockey League clash for the charity game will see the Colts face off against the Red Deer Vipers on Friday at 8:45pm at the Three Hills Centennial Arena.
Having the game in Didsbury at the Memorial Complex is not possible this season due to an ammonia leak which was detected in the condenser unit/cooling tower on the exterior of the facility during regular maintenance in December. Mayor Rhonda Hunter says Didsbury council has approved the purchase of a new condenser unit and the Town looks forward to having it installed this summer and operational for the start of next season.
96.5 The Ranch had this Community Hotline conversation with Karen Rothenbusch.
