For Wanda Latimer, joining the Prairie Women on Snowmobiles annual provincial charity ride was a decision she’ll never forget.
As a breast cancer survivor herself, the trip to raise money and awareness for cancer research is incredibly meaningful.
“It's actually been an incredible experience, riding with these ladies,” said Latimer. “It's quite something to see, all of us in a line, and it's quite something to be a part of. If I'm up front and I look back, there's eight sleds behind me and it's pretty cool.”
Latimer is just one member of the group of 10 women who embarked on their journey on Feb. 2, beginning in Humboldt with a banquet. They reached Moose Jaw three days later, to be greeted by a crowd gathered at the Eagles Club.
About 180 tickets to the evening were sold, and the Eagles raised a total of $2,400 to donate to the Prairie Women on Snowmobiles’ causes.
For Latimer, who lives in Regina and whose husband works here in Moose Jaw, the support shown by a community so close to home was heartwarming.
Latimer decided to ride with the mission for the first time this year, joining the team for their 20th mission out on the snowy plains of Saskatchewan.
The mission is focused not only on raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society and Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, but also on advocating for the importance of cancer education.
The crew stops in several small towns each day, meeting and celebrating cancer survivors all over the province as part of their trip. At every stop, they have taken time to perform a pinning ceremony with any cancer survivors who have come out to see them.
The pinning ceremony is actually how Latimer first participated in the campaign. She met a pair of past core riders who told her about their experience with the mission and performed a pinning ceremony for her, to honour her victory over cancer.
“It was very touching,” said Latimer. “And so they coaxed me along and they said, 'Come on, Wanda, this is a great experience. You have to try this out.' And I thought, yeah, I'm going to do this and I'm glad that I made that decision.”
Latimer’s diagnosis was back in 2013, which is when she underwent two surgeries and chemotherapy treatment before reaching remission. She is amazed and grateful to see the advances in cancer treatments that have occurred since then, which makes advocacy very important to her.
“My five-year was in 2018 and things are good and so now, I'm here to sort of give back in a way,” said Latimer. “Already, there has been a change in the treatment for my type of cancer since I was diagnosed in 2013, so it just shows you that research is making things better for people with cancer.”
Rodger Lohman, a representative from the Canadian Cancer Society, was there to see the Prairie Women on Snowmobiles at their stop in Moose Jaw and he felt the mission was giving more than just a monetary donation.
“It's just great that they're able to fundraise all this money for cancer research and different programs, but it also just shows the sisterhood that they are able to build,” said Lohman. “It's about the sisterhood, the friendships and I think that's what really Saskatchewan is all about, is community.”
To date, the Prairie Women on Snowmobiles annual mission has raised over $2.5 million for breast cancer research.
The trip continues on from Moose Jaw to Marquis, Eyebrow, Elbow, and Outlook on Feb. 6, and will finish on Feb. 7 in Martensville.
Latimer is looking forward to continuing the journey and taking with her the message of hope, support, and awareness.
“Our biggest message is early detection. So go for your tests and do your breast self-examinations, male or female,” said Latimer, in closing.
