It didn’t take long for the Browns to take their new prize for a spin.
After winning the Airdrie Phoenix Swim Club’s (APSC) raffle contest for a recreational camper vehicle on May 15, the Brown family celebrated their new RV with a camping trip at Crimson Lake over the May 29-30 weekend.
Airdrie resident Kristi Brown said she “thought it was a prank” when she learned she had purchased the winning ticket for a 2021 Dutchmen Aspen Bunkhouse, valued at $21,500, on May 15.
“It was very exciting,” she said. “We had been talking about it that morning because I had set a reminder on my phone to check out who won, because I had bought the tickets a long time ago. My daughter saw the reminder on the iPad and thought we were getting a trailer. I said, no, we’re not – it’s just a contest.
“It turns out I came home that afternoon and said, ‘We are getting a trailer.’ Everyone was very excited. It’s one of those things you don’t expect to win, but it was a good win and we were very happy.”
After taking possession of their new camper on May 27, Brown said the family took the vehicle on its maiden voyage the very next day, when they drove a few hours northwest to Crimson Lake for a two-night camping trip.
Brown said the family is familiar with that campground, as her in-laws live in nearby Rocky Mountain House. She said the family goes camping there at least once a year, previously borrowing an RV from a family member to do so.
With a new camper now in tow, she added the family is also planning an upcoming camping trip to Red Lodge, near Bowden, to celebrate the end of the school year at the end of June.
Brown said she learned of the APSC’s contest on social media. Considering her family had discussed purchasing an RV for some time, she said it was an easy decision to enter the contest.
She added another reason for participating was the opportunity to support a local organization that is catered to Airdrie youth – something she said has been a focus for her family throughout the pandemic.
“My kids aren’t in the swim club or anything, but they’re in lots of other local organizations, and with COVID, we’ve been trying to support local organizations because some of them are disappearing because they don’t have enrolment, funds or whatever [they need] to continue,” she said.
“Things are just folding and I don’t want to see that happen – I want the kids to have swim clubs, girl guides and whatnot to go back to,” she added. “If anything, I’d encourage people to try and buy raffle tickets, chocolate bars or whatever the fundraisers are. I lucked out pretty big, but it’s important to do that.”
According to Corey McKeown, a volunteer with the APSC, the club managed to sell more than 59,000 tickets and raise $100,000 through its raffle contest. The contest was put on in partnership with Field of RV Dreams in Airdrie.
He said the proceeds of the contest will support the club’s 23 athletes as they transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic and resume training and competitions.
“All the funds are not only going to pay for lanes for our athletes, but it will also enable the club to pay for coaching and all the basic necessities the athletes need to compete across Alberta,” he said.
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
