A new fundraiser by Cochrane Search and Rescue (CSR) will help support their operations within Cochrane and surrounding communities, while also giving someone the chance to win up to $10,000.
CSR president Kyle Blondeau explained that the fundraiser will be done online through RaffleBox as a 50/50 raffle. If all goes well, CSR would secure around $8,000 to help with their operations and one lucky winner can walk away with a hefty $10,000 this holiday season.
The 50/50 is currently open, and it is set to close on Dec. 23.
Blondeau explained that the non-profit group is looking to use the money in a variety of ways. Outside of new uniforms, he said the money will also update some of their equipment.
“The next project we’re working on is some of our equipment,” Blondeau said. “Like GPS’, InReaches, survival gear that we need when we’re out in the mountains, new radios, and other stuff like that.”
He adds that one of their service vehicles is beginning to see the end of its career.
“Our next long-term project that we’re going to have to try to get, probably sooner that later, is a new vehicle,” Blondeau said. “One of our SUV’s, the main SUV, has over 450,000 KM on it, so it’s just a matter of time that thing goes.
“The maintenance to keep it going right now is higher than what we’re getting out of it.”
CSR covers a wide area of both the Bow Valley and Rocky View County. Everything from Waiporous, Canmore, Bragg Creek, Big Horn, Rocky View, all the way up to the Calgary border fall within their area of operations.
“We do cover a massive area, and we have roughly close to 70 members, and we’re all volunteers,” he explained. “It’s 100 per cent non-profit, so it takes the community for us to operate and for us to be functioning at all.
“Without all of our generous sponsors, donors, and community. None of if would be possible without the wonderful people around us.”
For anyone interested in entering the 50/50 raffle, they can do so by visiting www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/csr. Alternatively, readers can also find a link and QR code for the raffle by visiting the CSR social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
