Hearing Ev Howie talk about Pam Johnston is both heartbreaking and a testament to the strength of those fighting cancer. In 2006, Howie and friend Lynne Martin met Johnston at an orientation in Pinewa, Manitoba, for a breast cancer fundraising walk.
“At the meeting, a young girl got up and said she had terminal breast cancer,” said Howie. “Her main wish was that she could stay alive until her daughter turned two.”
That young girl was Pam Johnston. At the time, she was beginning to weaken and was able to complete a portion of the walk before riding a bus for the remaining part. A resident of Beausejour, Manitoba, Johnston would have had to commute to the walk, but Martin offered Johnston a stay at her home nearby.
The idea for the first fundraising sled ride happened around Thanksgiving of that year, when Johnston and several friends, including Carole Page—a future Rum Runner—hatched the idea of a fundraising sled ride. Johnston saw the group off on their debut ride in February of 2007. Sadly, she passed away in April of 2007.
2010 marked the fourth year that the Rum Runners completed Pam’s Ride for the Cure. On February 11, the group took off from Lac du Bonnet, passing through the communities of of Pine Falls, Grand Marais, Gimli, Beausejour and LaBroquerie. Howie said that the ride takes extensive pre-planning and organization.
“We pay our own way completely,” said Howie. “Gas, food, equipment—it’s pretty much a matter of everyone pitching in. Every year someone takes a turn at booking rooms and Carole Page does the route for us.”
Howie said that the Rum Runners always pass through Beausejour, as it was Johnston’s hometown. They also hold fundraising events throughout the year, both for Cancer Care Manitoba and for an education fund for Johnston’s daughter, Chamonix. On their 2010 ride, they raised over $7,000 and to date have given more than $20,000 to Cancer Care.
