Echoes of classic muscle cars and today’s performance exotics can still be heard today after a very successful N49 Cruise for Hope which happened Saturday. This was the second time Pembina Counselling Centre (PCC) held the fundraiser, with 2024 the inaugural event. Altona's Millennium Exhibition Centre (MEC) was the starting point for the 95 vehicles registered, with the day ending at Morden’s Stardust Drive In with a stop along the way at Winkler's Hometown Ford for a car show.
"Last year we had 90 vehicles registered, this year we have 95, and we know there'll be some just showing up," shared Executive Director Chris Derksen as the MEC's parking lot filled up around him. "I'm just filled with such joy and gratitude to this community for showing up and supporting Pembina Counselling Centre."
Thanks, gratitude and joy
"The fact people would take time out of their day, and money, to support us is just amazing," he said. "A big shout out to the Pembina Valley, which includes Winkler, Morden, Altona. We're starting here in Altona, which is so appropriate, because we opened the office here just a couple of years ago."
By the end of the day, over 100 vehicles participated in the N49 Cruise for Hope with more than 150 individuals in those vehicles and even more coming out from the community to check out the car show in Winkler.
Exponential growth
Derksen will be marking his sixth anniversary with PCC this December, and over that time the organization has seen a dramatic increase in demand going from three councillors and 2,200 appointments in 2020, to an expected well over 5,000 this year, with ten councillors and the eleventh being looked for.
"The fact of the matter is, we live in a broken world, a hurting world," he offered. "In light of the events of this last week, too, it just feels like the world is broken. We don't want people to have to suffer alone, and that's what we're there for. We're here to serve the community, to be a beacon for them, a hope, and this all makes that possible. The commitment and the support of this community makes it possible for us to keep our costs low, so no one is turned away from getting the services they need at Pembina Counselling Centre."
And the numbers are?
"In terms of the financial numbers, I don't know all the numbers yet, but I'm guessing probably around $30,000 raised," he said. "That's net, so not including the expenses. That's an increase from last year, and so I just can't say thank you enough to the Pembina Valley and thank you to God. We do all this for Him, and out of love and compassion for our community. Just a big thank you to everyone."
