The number of volunteers dipped slightly but Operation Red Nose gave the most rides ever in Thompson in December and donations were up for the third year in a row, according to organizing committee member Bobbi Montean.
Thompson's 119 volunteer drivers, dispatchers and escorts provided 251 rides this holiday season and raised just over $4,000.
That's four more rides than in 2009, their previous best year, and a few hundred dollars more than the previous fundraising record of $3,767.49, also in 2009, when there were 121 volunteers, the most Thompson has ever had.
"Thanks so much for helping us break more of our records during our 2010 Red Nose season," said Montean, noting that volunteers had covered more than 2,200 kilometres over 10 nights of rides.
Thompson's Operation Red Nose provided 16 more rides than the program in Flin Flon, where 235 rides were given, but fell 26 rides short of The Pas, where 277 rides were given out.
"They always seem to beat us in the number of rides that are done," said Montean. "We have a goal for 2011!"
Thompson's Operation Red Nose was fifth out of eight programs across the province in terms of total rides, with Winnipeg topping the list at 1,139, followed by Brandon with 458 and Portage la Prairie with 387. Overall, 3,087 rides were provided throughout the province.
Anyone interested in joining the organizing committee for the 2011 Operation Red Nose can call Bobbi Montean at 778-8601.
