Ridin' for a reason

More than 80 women are taking on North America from every corner of the map, trying to raise money to help fight a disease that will ultimately affect one in three women.

The women are participating in Polaris Industries' "Way Out Women" (WOW) Ride -- a relay that starts in four locations in America and Canada and culminates with a ride in Minnesota that coincides with Polaris celebrating its 50th anniversary. Participating women collect pledges which will be donated to both the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in America, and also to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

The U.S. West team starts its ride on Jan. 26 in Trapper Creek. On the first day, the riders will travel south to Wasilla, where they are staying at Lake Lucille Inn. The next day, they will complete a leg to Anchorage. The next leg begins in Ross Lake, Wash., and continues through to Roseau, Minn., where Polaris manufactured its first snowmachine 50 years ago. Riders will arrive there on Feb. 19. The U.S. East team begins on Jan. 20 in Fort Fairfield, Maine and goes through New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Canada West team starts Jan. 26 in Squamish, B.C. and continues through Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Canada East team has the longest leg -- starting from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland last Friday and going through Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario.

This marks the second year for the ride, but the first on American soil. Last year, the ride was held in Canada, and nearly $200,000 was raised for breast cancer research there.

The idea for the WOW Relay was born two years ago in the Winnipeg offices of Polaris Canada. A worker there was undergoing treatment, and coworkers wanted to devise an event to show support and raise money for research.

This year, to help celebrate Polaris' 50th anniversary, the ride is also going through the U.S.

"We are overwhelmed by the success of the 2003 WOW Relay and are excited about doing it again," said Penny Mahon, the Canadian ride coordinator.

"This one promises to be more exciting as we will be celebrating Polaris' 50th anniversary as well as raising even more funds for breast cancer research," she added.

There are four Alaskans taking part in the relay -- Kim Wood, Rachel Morrison, Sheila Westfall and April Westfall. Of all the teams, riders range in age from 20 to a 72-year-old great-grandmother who is a breast cancer survivor, like many of the riders.

The idea of the WOW Relay was born out of personal stories by Polaris employees.

"Polaris has always been a supporter of major charities, and raising funds for a disease that has touched most of us just made sense," Mahon said. "Breast cancer has surfaced in the Polaris offices more than once in recent years."

Survivors are the biggest supporters.

"Our coworkers who have been courageously fighting the battle against breast cancer are doing well thanks to the ongoing research and support of organizations like the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation," said Marlys Knutson, Polaris external relations manager.

People who miss the riders coming through the Valley can keep up with the entire event by checking out www.polarisindustries.com/WowRelay.