18th ANNUAL P.E.A.C.E. 100 RAISES $21,000 FOR D.A.R.E.

The 18th annual Police Elks Assisted Community Education (P.E.A.C.E.)
100 was held on Feb. 8 and 9, and despite the cold weather, was a
success.

Twenty-two riders braved the cold to raise money for the Drug
Awareness Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program and enjoy some
trailed snowmobiling in the area.

The P.E.A.C.E. 100 is put on annually by the Nipawin Elks Lodge in
conjunction with the Royal Purple to help raise money towards the
D.A.R.E. program.

Many dignitaries from the Elks and the Royal Purple were on hand to
help celebrate this achievement and to get to know people in the area.

Al Edwards of White Rock, B.C., Grand Exalted Ruler/National
President of the Elks of Canada was in Nipawin for his first time for
the event. He was pleased to see the support given to the Elks from
community members in Nipawin, he was also happy to see service clubs
working together to help make the community a better place.

Debbie Waldon, Supreme Honoured Royal Lady was also at the banquet
and awards to extend her congratulations to the riders for braving
the cold.

"I'm glad to see the help going to a program that is so needed in our
province," said Waldon.

Rene Shank, Drug and Organized Crime Awareness, Service "F" Division
(Saskatchewan), was also there to extend his gratitude to the event
and raising money for D.A.R.E.

Over 30 officers were trained in the D.A.R.E. program this year and
Saskatchewan currently has 149 active members teaching D.A.R.E.

The D.A.R.E. program is offered in every school division in
Saskatchewan and last year alone they reached out to 3,340 kids
through 163 D.A.R.E. classes taught.

Although some dispute the D.A.R.E. program and if it has any impact
on children, Shank said he's not going to argue with the naysayers.

"No one wins with arguing about it, it's just mudslinging," said
Shank.

The people involved in D.A.R.E. feels it makes a difference, and
Shank said if it makes a difference to just one child it's worth it.

"The D.A.R.E. program isn't credited with solving all problems, but
it is a piece of the puzzle," said Shank.

At this year's P.E.A.C.E. 100 two men from Saskatoon saw a TV ad for
the P.E.A.C.E. and liked what they saw and thought it was a good
cause, so they headed to Nipawin the morning of the event to
participate.

This year the P.E.A.C.E. 100 raised $6,041 in donations, $25,768 in
ticket sales and will be donating between $20,000 and $21,000 to the
D.A.R.E. program, reaching their goal that was set before the event.

This year's riders prizes went to Gary Cory, John Barks of Melfort,
Travis McKetsy of Saskatoon and Const. Derek Pineo.

The first place of the draw was a Yamaha 350 Bruin 4x4 quad, which
went to Ray Kalk of Pontrilas.