Three Thompson snowmobilers braved some harsh conditions in taking part in the Lions Eye Bank Journey for Sight.

Nick Smook, Al Kacilius and Kelly Martens all made the trip from Thompson to Brandon on board their snowmobiles, while co-ordinator Colleen Smook drove along as the support vehicle driver.

Colleen Smook has been co-ordinating and organizing the event for the past five years, though this year presented some unique challenges thanks to the weather.

“We left on the coldest day of the year,” said Smook, in reference to Jan. 17, “the day when it was -39 degrees and 49 below with the wind chill.”

The riders were only able to ride their snowmobiles as far south as Russell because of a lack of snow.

“We got to Russell on the Friday afternoon and then the rest of the day Friday and Saturday we had to trailer the vehicles,” said Smook.

The Journey for Sight originated in Birtle, Manitoba in 1983 and has raised more than $1 million to date. Riders journey from Northern and central Manitoba, making stops along the way, collecting pledges and donations for the Lions Eye Bank of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario.

“We stopped in a number of different communities,” said Smook, “different Lion's clubs, and they all present you with cheques as you're going along.”

The turnout of riders for this year's event was smaller than usual, which again is attributed to snow conditions.

“Normally we have six or seven riders from Thompson, but this year we had only three,” said Smook.

Seven riders in total departed from Thompson, with three being Thompsonites, and the other four drove up from southern Manitoba to participate.

Perhaps the youngest participant ever in the fundraiser was Nick and Colleen's two-year old granddaughter Ashlynn, who raised $162 along the way.

“She rode along with me in the support vehicle,” said Smook, “she had her own coin jar, and she collected change at the stops we made.”

The five-day ride made overnight stops in Snow Lake, The Pas, Swan River and Birtle before wrapping up for the final banquet in Brandon.

The Thompson contingent raised over $6,000, and provincewide approximately $65,000 was raised in total.