Operation Red Nose Volunteers 2019

By Lara Fominoff

Operation Red Nose campaign to begin its 25th year in Lethbridge

Nov 18, 2019 | 12:36 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The University of Lethbridge’s “Operation Red Nose” will once again begin its holiday campaign November 29. Last year, the service provided just over 1,100 rides.

Over the last 24 years, nearly $775,000 in donations has been raised to support Pronghorns Athletics Programs and teams. U of L Executive Director of Sport and Activity, Ken McInnes, says they have about 200 athletes and other volunteers taking part.

Operation Red Nose dates

“We really rely on the community volunteers. They are a huge part of what we do, and we do have through the various media outlets and on our website, ways that you can call us or get volunteer forms.”

The premise of the program is to discourage impaired driving; to get people home safely from their office parties, gatherings or other events that take place during the holiday season. The client drives to the party or location themselves, and when they need a ride home, an “Operation Red Nose” volunteer vehicle will go to the location, and a volunteer will drive the client’s vehicle home with the caller, while the pilot car follows it.

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“When we come and pick you up for the rides, there’s kind of two ways to do it. One is that we pick you up for the rides, we get you home safely and you can provide a donation right there…and then you can also book parties. You can call us at Pronghorn Athletics and if you’re having a business party or a party at your residence…. and you’d like to make sure your colleagues and friends and family get home safely you can just give us a call, and it’s a flat fee.”

All donations go directly to the teams. Each team has a night they operate, and all funds raised that night go into the team’s operations. Madeline Szabo, a 4th year student and member of the track and field team has been a volunteer for the last several years.

“It’s actually a really fun initiative,” she says. “It brings a lot of the different athletes together, as well as it brings us together with community members. I feel like it gives us visibility with community members who might not know about us and what we do. It kind of builds that relationship and allows us to support them, while they support us.”

If you’d like to become a volunteer, go to http://gohorns.ca to download the volunteer form. The telephone number to book a ride is 403-320-4155.

Across the country, Operation Red Nose campaigns operate in 100 communities and provides tens of thousands of safe rides home each year.