Half-million dollar fight

One warm June evening in 1999, four avid snowmobilers began planning the snowmobile ride of a lifetime, an adventure that would take them around Lake Superior.

The four adventurers—Minnesotans Greg Sorenson, Randy Bannor, Larry Bannor and Dennis Nelson—decided that their adventure could also be used to raise money to help fight ALS, sometimes known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The decision to ride on behalf of ALS was made because Randy Bannor was a friend with Kevin Kolquist of Duluth, a fellow snowmobiler and one who suffered from ALS.

Greg Sorenson noted, “Once word got out about the trip, ALS Minnesota got involved and helped. The first year, four of us traveled 2,025 miles in 10 days and raised $15,000. Ironically, just five days before we departed, my father, Walt Sorenson, broke the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with ALS. The ride took on a whole new meaning for me.”

Because there was a lot of interest in the ride, Sorenson said that the riders decided to do a shorter ride. That was how the Black Woods Blizzard Tour was born.

Snowmobilers gather for the annual Blizzard Tour on behalf of ALS Minnesota.

Minnesota snowmobilers raised more than a half-million dollars to fight Lou Gehrig’s Disease in an annual charity ride.

“We were fortunate to secure two great major sponsors—Black Woods and Polaris,” Sorenson says. “With that, we planned a 380-mile, three-day ride.” The Minnesota fund-raising ride starts in Proctor travels to Tower, Two Harbors and back to Proctor.

“In 2000, we raised $56,300,” he adds. “This year, we completed the ninth annual ride and raised an impressive $505,000. There were 136 riders from six states and some great sponsors on the three-day snowmobile ride across the icy trails of northeastern Minnesota. The total money raised in the nine years of this event is $1.5 million.”

This year’s top fundraiser was Dave Telschow, of Savage, who raised $75,460. Jane Evans, of Roseau, raised $33,377 and was the next top fundraiser. Riders are not just from Minnesota, John Malinosky, of Enfield, Conn. raised $25,021. “It’s amazing what snowmobilers can do when they get motivated,” Sorenson said.

Former Minnesota Twins baseball catcher, Terry Steinbach served as the celebrity host of the event for the ninth year. For his years of service to the ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter and the Black Woods Blizzard Tour, he was presented with the Wes Blakeslee Most Valuable Rider Award—named in honor of a young Polaris snowmobile engineer who was diagnosed with ALS in 1998 and was a huge part of this ride’s success. He lost his battle against ALS in September 2003.

Joining Steinbach on the ride again this year were Minnesota Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire; Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson; Twins batting coach Joe Vavra; former Minnesota Twins World Series hero Kent Hrbek; and former NHL hockey player Darby Hendrickson.

“I wish to offer a huge thank you to the snowmobilers and MnUSA members that have generously donated on my behalf to this event,” offered a grateful Sorenson. “A big thank you was given to the dedicated club volunteers who adjusted their grooming schedules to make smooth trails for the snowmobilers to ride on.

Adds Sorenson: “The money raised will help make the last few months of an ALS patient’s life as comfortable as can be and will allow them to communicate with their loved ones. Because of snowmobilers and the Blizzard Tour, ALS Minnesota is able to help many more patients than they ever have in the past.”

The next ride is planned for Feb. 5 to 7, 2009. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or would like to make a donation please, contact Greg Sorenson under the Region 7 directors listing at http://www.mnsnowmobiler.org/ and look in the region directors listing.