Hub Staff

Kids got to slide, snowshoe and skate their Saturday morning away during the 14th annual Rotary Winterama fundraiser February 20.

From snowshoeing in Shallow Lake to cross-country skiing at Sawmill Ski Trail in Hepworth, and learning to curl at the Port Elgin Curling Club, the kids agree that it was a fun morning.

G.C. Huston Public School in Southampton even brought 60 excited students on their party bus. The students got to skate at the Plex with a few players from Saugeen Shores Winterhawks.

Ten-year-old Lauren Gibbons raised the most in pledges, $690 in total, earning her a Samsung Galaxy Tab4 tablet. Money raised from the pledges goes back to the kids, said Rotarian Dr. Doug Fryday.

“It’s mainly through schools and some clubs. The kids pledge for different activities, they can skate, snowshoe, cross country ski, or swim, and bring their pledges. The schools gets 70 percent from the pledges, 30 percent (of which) goes to the breakfast clubs and 40 percent goes to youth activities in the schools,” Fryday said.

He added the remaining 30 percent remaining goes to future kids activities through the Rotary Club. “In the end 100 percent goes back to the kids so it’s a win, win,” said Fryday.

The Port Elgin Curling Club was a popular spot with many kids learning the sport for the first time. First-timer Carson McNeice had good form handling the rock. “Curling is fun, I’m not that good at it, but I like it,” McNeice said earnestly in between turns.

Friends Lauren Gibbons, Ariel Brower and Natalie Pound, also new to the sport, were being taught by Mandy Kent Wilkinson, who said they were doing a good job and seemed keen.

Ten-year-old Natalie Pound raised around $80 for Winterama and enjoyed curling, but her mind was on something else.

“Curling is fun, but it’s cold, I’m looking forward to pizza, hopefully it’s warm,” said Pound who was also happy with her new-found curling skills.

“I learned how to throw a rock, how to hold the stick properly, and how to slide.”

Winterama is hosted by Rotary Clubs from Port Elgin, Southampton, Tara and Hepworth - Shallow Lake. The top five pledgers were Lauren Gibbons, Alexis Rennick, Jack Bennet, Janelle Leonard and Arianna Porter.