By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Steady progress is being made on the Hearts for Heroes event featuring the world famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride this coming August, according to Osoyoos’ Tammy Herman who is leading the charge.
On August 23 the Hearts for Heroes will take over Desert Park for a full day of family activities, demonstrations and entertainment to honour the individuals in the uniformed services and those we rely on when we dial 911, and their families, “who live with that reality every day,” Herman noted.
Events include games and kid’s activities, displays, demonstrations – including a wildfire helicopter display and canine demonstration – a “Wacky Wild West” beer garden, food trucks and snack booths, all capped by an outdoor concert under the clear Osoyoos sky.
Of course the highlight of the day will be two performances (noon and 4 p.m.) of the RCMP Musical Ride. Herman cautions that if the weather is too hot for the horses the 4 p.m. could be cancelled.
“It’s going good,’ Herman said of the mammoth effort required to put this together with her small team of volunteers. Two key things need shoring up however, the first is volunteers and the second is monetary.
She says she’ll need 100 volunteers to make the day work. Herman says there will be a meeting at a venue as yet to be determined where potential volunteers can learn more about what is expected of them and what they can expect. One thing she is adamant about is that people are volunteering to truly help and not simply to get a free ticket to the event.
“I need you to work,” she emphasizes. “Yes, we will try to make it so that each volunteer sees one of the shows, but, if that’s the only reason you’re coming and then you’re no use to me, right?”
RCMP Musical Ride thrills a young horse lover.
RCMP Musical Ride photo
The next crucial piece of the puzzle is financial. It’s not a cheap event to put together, the horses along for example, need specific, top notch horse feed. And the riders and team have accommodation requirements and so on.
Herman says she’s been tapping her own bank account up until now, but has reached the limit. So far only two significant donations have been received – $2,000 from the Town of Osoyoos’ Community Services grant (Herman had requested $10,000) and $2,000 from the Osoyoos Arts Council – but still far below what is needed for an event of this scale that is expected to bring people in from far and wide that weekend.
A key support for the event is coming up in just over a week’s time in the form of the annual Community Yard Sale which Herman has been running for a number of years in support of Honour House and Ranch.
Honour House is a facility for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans, Emergency Services Personnel and their families to stay, completely free of charge, while they are receiving medical care and treatment in the Metro Vancouver area. Honour Ranch are rural situated facilities for these same service personnel to get treatment for stress injuries including anxiety, depression and PTSD.
This year all proceeds will go towards supporting the Hearts for Heroes event which in turn will see any proceeds going to the Honour House and Ranch program. “This garage sale is what’s going to make us, because right now we need $30,000,” she says.
This year’s garage sale will be held at the Osoyoos Royal Canadian Legion. Volunteers and donations are also needed for this event.
The Hearts for Heroes Garage Sale will be held on May 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Osoyoos Legion (8310 78 Ave.). Items can be dropped off Friday, May 22 at the rear of the Legion building. Call 250-495-5769 to volunteer, donate or inquire about donating items for the garage sale
Tickets for the Hearts for Heroes event are available online at heartsforheroes.ca and are priced at $20 for adults, $10 for children (age 6-16) and free for age 5 and under. Lawn/camping chair check-in will be provided free of charge as there is no seating available.
