Riding for youth

Times Reporter

 

Giving back to an organization that’s important to her was the only thing Strathmore resident Beryl Ascott wanted for her 70th birthday. 

Ascott, who turned 70 on June 9, decided she didn’t want any gifts or cards for her birthday, and instead wanted to help out others in the community by sponsoring kids to attend Camp Chestermere. 

“I looked around and I said to myself, I have so much I don’t need anything else for my birthday from friends or family and I didn’t even want cards…and I thought, what can I do?” said Ascott.

“My heart has been with camp and kids, I feel that every kid should have a chance to go to camp at least once. I think it builds character, I think it teaches them to live with other people and I just feel that this camp in particular is a very good one.”

After a discussion with her husband, Peter, Ascott decided she would ride around the Chestermere Lake three times on her bike, which is roughly 31km, to raise money for Camp Chestermere. She asked friends and family to sponsor her ride, and as of June 6 she had raised $3,822, which will be used to send 10 kids to the camp this summer. 

The morning of June 1 Ascott and her grandson Rance Coulter got on their bikes and began the trek around the lake. The grandmother/grandson time they had was invaluable to her, and their chatting seemed to make the ride go a little quicker. Peter, 77, did the final lap around the lake with her, after Coulter had to leave. 

“It’s been exciting and I am so grateful to the Strathmore people for the support they have given me, it has been phenomenal,” said Ascott.

Ascott is no stranger to longer rides, but said it has been some time since she had done any serious cycling. Approximately 20 years ago Beryl and Peter had travelled to Denmark where they rode 960 miles in three weeks with another couple. 

To prepare for the ride around Chestermere Lake, Ascott rode around Chestermere and Strathmore a bit, and rode on her stationary bike if the weather wasn’t that great outside. 

“This was such an opportunity, little old granny of 70 riding around the lake, making money for kids to go to camp. This was my special birthday gift, not just to myself but to the kids who will go to camp,” said Ascott.

“I’ve had more fun doing this than opening parcels or anything else. My kids have made it special for me too because they have been so supportive of it and I think that’s important.”

When the Ascott family first moved to Canada, Beryl specifically sought out a camp for her children and that was when she was first introduced to Camp Chestermere. 

“We arrived in Canada in 1974 from Africa, and the first thing I did was look around for a camp for my kids. I felt that they needed to not only make friends but to find themselves a little bit,” said Ascott.

“We’d made a huge move, had to spend six months in England coming over, and so the kids were a little sort of lost, so camp was very important for us to get them into.” 

Over the years the Ascotts have occasionally sent kids to camp at Camp Chestermere, and try to help families send children when they may not necessarily be able to afford to. There is financial assistance available through the camp for families who would like to send their child but maybe can’t afford to. 

“I can’t recommend this camp enough. If there is anybody in Strathmore who would like to send a child to (overnight) camp between the ages of seven to 15 would you please contact the camp at 403-272-6030 and ask about the sponsorship program,” said Ascott. 

“They will be asked a few questions but we don’t turn any child away, we would love to have them, especially the ones that can’t afford to come because I think it’s so important for kids to get a camp experience.”

Currently the Ascot’s both volunteer at the camp, with Beryl washing all the lost and found laundry each week. Peter helps cut down trees and with other odd jobs around the camp.