A hamlet that helps

The Rumsey Ride continues its reign as the longest-running STARS fundraiser.

By appearances, the Rumsey Ride may seem like an understated fundraiser. Event chairperson Rob Richmond calls it a “meat and potato” fundraiser. While he’s referring to the annual one-day event’s simple nature — it’s a trail ride on horseback followed by a tasty beef supper — the fact is, the Ride is a major STARS supporter. During the 2023 Rumsey Ride, an enormous milestone was reached: the $1-million mark for cumulative money raised.

The event, which started in 1989, is the longest consecutively held fundraiser in support of STARS and takes over the hamlet of Rumsey, Alta., located 40 kilometres north of Drumheller, every August. Richmond said the Ride is one of the main events of the summer for the
hamlet and surrounding communities.

“It has really become a community tradition for the whole area,” said Richmond. “It’s not a glitz-and-glamour kind of thing, but it’s definitely circled on everybody’s calendar.”

Participating riders collect pledges as their entry ticket. Nobody is overly fussed about the amount, though some riders manage to collect thousands of dollars in donations. Along with the dinner and trail ride, the event has grown to include a whole day of activities, including a pancake breakfast, poker rally, silent auction, raffle, and awards ceremony. It’s recently evolved to add a virtual trail ride, online auction and five-km walks to “make our fundraiser adapt, stay current, and bring in new audiences,” said Richmond.

The event is all about community effort and support. “Everybody probably knows somebody, whether it’s a neighbour, family member, or somebody in their life that’s actually been saved by STARS,” said Richmond. “It has a lot of meaning for rural areas where it’s so important.”

As a sign of appreciation for all the support over the years, two of STARS’ helicopters feature the Rumsey Ride logo on them. One of these helicopters has also made an appearance in Rumsey, giving people the chance to see an ambulance aircraft — and the Rumsey
logo — up close and personal as an additional thank you.

“I guarantee when everybody walked across that field, that was the first thing they went to look for,” said Richmond. “It’s a small thing, but it’s a patch of honour that means a lot to everybody.”

No matter what else is happening, even through a pandemic, fires, floods, economic downturns, and droughts, participants keep showing up and the Rumsey Ride continues every year.

“The success and longevity of the Rumsey Ride is the community spirit and volunteerism displayed by our committee, community groups, our faithful riders, donors, businesses, and long-time supporters,” affirmed Richmond. “We always say about our Ride — it’s more than a tradition. It’s about keeping our STARS spirit alive.”