It has been a milestone in the making for 34 years.
The Rumsey Ride for STARS has rebranded itself the Ride for A Million!
Organizer Rob Richmond tells the Mail, there is a strong chance the ride will break the million-dollar mark this season.
“I think with the generosity we have experienced, I don’t think it will be too hard to achieve it. We are right there and it should be a cool thing and an exciting time,” said Richmond.
The Rumsey Ride is coming on Sunday, August 13. This will be the second year they have decided to move the ride to its headquarters at the Rumsey Agriplex and Grounds, and the ride will take place on the Rumsey Nature Trail.
“The Ag Society has been a huge partner for us… they have always been there for us and are more than willing to have it. It is a big high point on the calendar for Rumsey,” said Richmond.
He adds they have also made a great partner with the East Central Heritage Society, which looks after the nature trail. This is the former railway line that runs between Rumsey and Rowley.
Expect all the fun activities you have come to enjoy over the more than three decades of the Rumey Ride. The Rumsey Volunteer Fire Department will be serving up breakfast starting at 9 a.m., before riders head out on the trail. It wraps up with the beef dinner.
Other activities on-site include a silent auction and raffles, and Jill Brodie will be back with the Ducks and Dogs Demo. Riders can also participate in the poker rally for $5 a hand.
While the traditional ride remains intact, there have been additions over the last couple of years during COVID that have been a great way for more to participate.
If riders are not able to participate on the day, they can still do the “Your Ride for STARS”, where they collect pledges and do their own rides. They have also kept the popular online auction going preceding the main event.
For the last couple of years, Richmond has participated in his own walk, where he would tromp a trail across the country ride, his most recent trek was 33 kilometres. This year they are changing it up and are inviting participants to take part in a 5k walk on August 12. At the end of the walk they will have a Gooch’s Gang barbecue, sponsored by the Alix Fire Department.

Drumheller introduced a pilot program to tackle food insecurity in the valley.
‘JUST Groceries’ launched on May 11, providing grocery gift cards to food-insecure households through local social service agencies. The project came about through a $50,000 Alberta Food Security Grant, which the Community Development and Social Planning Department (CDSP) received affirmative news of on February 28, 2023.
$35,000 of the grant has been earmarked for the JUST Groceries program, with the remaining $15,000 going towards restarting the Older Adults Hot Meals program.
Partnering with CDSP, the Drumheller Poverty Reduction Alliance recommended adopting a grocery gift card food security model based on the Calgary charity I Can for Kids, which seeks to address the root problem of food insecurity, which is inadequate income.
The Drumheller Salvation Army, the local food bank provider, is one of the agencies distributing the gift cards as part of the program.
Major Robert Burrell is pleased to be a part of the program.
“It is a privilege to be one of the agencies chosen to provide distribution of these cards. We are in a position to see firsthand, each day, how deep the need is for this type of assistance in our community. This program provides us with a great opportunity to advance our mission here in the Drumheller Valley, as it is so aligned with our principles,” said Burrell.
Local grocery store, Freson Bros., partnered with CDSP for both the Hot Meals and JUST Groceries Program, providing a seven per cent discount on gift cards to their store. This generosity provided another $1,500 in gift cards for families with inadequate household income.
Dale Goulder, Freson Bros. store manager said, “Freson Bros. has had the privilege of being part of the Drumheller community for over 30 years and we take our responsibility to our community seriously. We’re proud to help support local community groups and honoured to partner with the town to help address local food insecurity.”
Extra Foods’ parent company, Loblaws, provides a bulk buying program (“Gift of Choice”), which gives a four per cent discount on gift cards purchased over a set volume.
Town of Drumheller Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Darryl Drohomerski is glad to see this initiative get off the ground.
“We’re thankful to the provincial government for providing the funds for this program, and we’re excited to be piloting this research-backed approach to tackle the root causes of food insecurity. We know through our recent Community Social Needs Assessment that affordability is an area of concern for some residents, and we hope this program goes a long way to help sustain Drumheller as a comfortable place for everyone to live and grow,” he said.