Organizers closing in on $250,000 raised

By Robert Williams

Editor

The 15th Annual Ole’s Ride on Saturday, Aug. 24 in Vergas is set to be a milestone event when it comes to fundraising as organizers look to surpass a quarter-million dollars raised for Hospice of the Red River Valley.

“I hope so, weather depending, of course,” said Organizer Krissy Barten. “I can’t even imagine. I never dreamt in a million years that this would turn into what it is.”

The event has raised $237,000 for Hospice in just 13 years, with the proceeds from the inaugural ride going to cover medical expenses of the ride’s namesake Richard “Ole” Barten.

“It’s all our little community,” Barten said. “When they say it takes a village that would be Vergas.”

Assuming Mother Nature complies, the Ole’s Ride will be coming to Vergas on the coattails of one of, if not the, largest Looney Days weekends ever.

“I’ve lived in Vergas my entire life and the wiener dog races have made a huge pull,” Barten said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. You couldn’t see. It was just people.”

Ole’s Ride had a large presence amongst the Looney Days crowd with the other nonprofits in the center of Main Street. The merchandise booth got an early start on supplying riders and raising funds parked right outside of Billy’s Corner Bar & Grill.

“It went really good; it always does,” Barten said. 

Given their prominent position between Billy’s and Vergas Hardware the Ole’s Ride booth also acts as an information booth for the biggest weekend in Vergas.

“Then we get to push Ole’s Ride too, because there are always new people in town,” said Barten. “The best thing that happened this year was a man that has been on our ride several times always comes and gets his T-shirt on Looney Days. He hasn’t been on the ride the past couple years because of some health issues, but he still comes to Looney Days. He came up to the booth and he took my hands and said, ‘This means more to me now than ever. I just lost my wife two months ago and she had Hospice.’”

Hearing the positive effects of Hospice on those in the end of life and their family members is one of the big reasons for the ride.

“It’s life-changing; it really is,” Barten said.

The booth attracts all kinds of interactions, from the heartfelt to the comedic.

“Another lady came up and she was giggling, ‘I have a grandson whose actual name is Ole. He’s only four months old, but I have to get him something.’ You get both ends,” said Barten.

Ole Barten lived his life with cancer until his passing in February of 2011. 

During his final months, he received compassionate care from Hospice of the Red River Valley, leaving an impact on his loved ones. Ole’s family initiated this event as a way to support and express their heartfelt appreciation for Hospice of the Red River Valley. 

Going into this 15th ride, the event has raised over $237.000 for Hospice of the Red River Valley.

The big key to that success is sponsorship and this year’s ride has added new sponsors: Loonies Pub & Campground; the Goodman siblings Scott, Theresa, Kathy and David; Butch’s Custom Services, Anderson Expedited Corp., and Melander Trucking.

“It’s so fun because they’re coming to us,” Barten said. “Every sponsor on there is important to us, along with everyone who donates to the silent auction.”

The new sponsors are contributing to a pool that has been bolstered over the years by companies that have been there from the beginning: JH Signs, BTD, Turn in Poachers, and Billy’s.

“They’re huge,” Barten said. “Everybody that has been so supportive of it.”

Billy’s was also a big part of Ole and Krissy’s lives together.

“They are so there for us,” she said. “Honestly, they were the center of every happy occasion in Ole and my life. That’s where we celebrated.”

Equally as important is the benefactor of the ride.

“There is nobody who is not affected by Hospice; if it’s not a family member, you knew somebody that had it,” Barten said. “I still think back to when it was Ole. He’s been gone 13 years, but I still think back to how I wasn’t aware of how much they helped Jess and I at the same time.”

Pre-registration and a bike show will be held on Friday, Aug. 23 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Billy’s Corner Bar in Vergas. Participants can also register for the ride on Saturday from 10-11:30 a.m. The bike ride will start at noon.

To participate in the ride, there is a registration fee of $25 per bike, with the option for an additional rider to join for $15. Registration includes a T-shirt, meal and opportunities to win door prizes at each stop along the route. Following the ride, participants can look forward to a silent auction and a live music performance by the Fat Cats.

Hospice of the Red River Valley is an independent, community-based, nonprofit hospice serving more than 50 counties in North Dakota and Minnesota. Hospice care is intensive comfort care that alleviates pain and suffering, enhancing the quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones by addressing their medical, emotional, spiritual and grief needs. 

For more information, call toll free 800-237-4629, email questions@hrrv.org or visit www.hrrv.org.