Photo: Rock Taylor, a member of the Espanola Lions Club dropped by the Moose studio on Tuesday to talk about the important role of the North Shore Search and Rescue and why the Espanola Lions Club assists the unit with its annual Canada Day Duck Race. Photo by Rosalind Russell
By Rosalind Russell – A collaboration between the Espanola Lions Club and North Shore Search and Rescue means saving more people in the long run.
Lions Club Rock Taylor says the role North Shore Search and Rescue plays in crucial to people’s survival and even though it is a call people do not want to have to make, it is so vitally important to know the volunteers that make up the unit are available to assist someone in crisis.
He says that is why the Espanola Lions Club members and their supporters are out selling tickets for the annual North Shore Search and Rescue Duck Race.
With regular jobs, ongoing training, and more, the unit appreciates the assistance of the Lions Club in selling tickets for the annual Duck Race held every Canada Day in Espanola.
Taylor points out the unit oversees an area extending from Sault Ste. Marie east to Sudbury, and south from Chapleau to Parry Sound.
Tickets are available at various local stores and from Lions Club Members.
Taylor says 100 percent of the proceeds goes to North Shore Search & Rescue, which receives no government supports and must raise over $50,000 every year to cover its own insurance costs and training, as well as host fundraising for equipment.
The latest purchases include a new vehicle as well as a Zodiac boat, which is large enough to hold a stretcher and helps the unit reach difficult, isolated wild areas when involved in an active search.
Interested in volunteering for either group, look for their pages on Facebook and send a message.
NSSAR Duck Race Update
Lion Rock Taylor
” The 24th Annual Espanola Duck Race, the major fundraiser for North Shore Search and Rescue, is fast approaching. July 1st at 11:00 is the official duck drop. We have sold nearly 4500 of the hoped for 5000 tickets which is great and there is time left to sell the rest if all those who have not yet donated to this NSSAR event would do so. The reason I’ve chosen to write this article at this time is to underline the fact that although the Duck Race is a fun July 1st event and 56 people will win a prize, the real winner is your search and rescue team. If we can sell 5000 tickets, the Lions Club will have raised over $20,000 for NSSAR! This is approximately 40% of their annual budget. So, when you see those duck tickets being sold, please consider a donation to NSSAR and you’ll get a bonus of a duck or a few to race for you July 1st.”
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