Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

Operation Red Nose

Operation Red Nose launch celebrates 25 years of PacificSport Interior BC

Nov 20, 2019 | 5:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — Operation Red Nose has been getting holiday revelers home safely for 22 years.

As the campaign enters its 23rd year, it’s celebrating the success of host organization, PacificSport Interior BC.

PacificSport has reached the milestone anniversary of 25 years of supporting amateur athletes and coaches.

Wednesday (Nov. 20) was launch day for Operation Red Nose, the biggest annual fundraiser for PacificSport.

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“A team of three volunteers will pick up you and your vehicle and get you home safely,” Operation Red Nose Coordinator Katie Klassen said. “It’s all by donation and donations raised goes to Pacific Sport Interior BC.”

PacificSport Interior BC Executive Director Carolynn Boomer is also the founder of Operation Red Nose, making this anniversary even more special for her.

“When you really look at community, it has just sort of embraced it at all levels,” she said, “so it’s a double win for us with our 25th and also the 23rd launch of our campaign for Operation Red Nose.”

Over the years PacificSport has given more than $280,000 to allow hundreds of athletes and coaches to travel to competitions.

Operation Red Nose helps support this national travel grant.

“Most of our athletes are traveling back to the east in some way, shape or form for a national competition and as we know, flights in this country are expensive, so we actually support them through providing a travel grant, so they get $400 that helps support them on a year-to-year basis,” Boomer said.

Para shot putter Greg Stewart is among local athletes who have seen their careers benefit from PacificSport programs.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

“They have so many significant programs that they put on that help support us athletes through our whole process of our sporting careers,” Stewart said. “The food stuff programs, so giving us a lot of discounts throughout the community, which is huge because we all have to eat. That extra little bit means either we can get two meals down the road, or we can save our costs to put money towards other things too.”

In addition to supporting PacificSport, Operation Red Nose does the important job of keeping impaired drivers off the roads.

“At the Christmas season, impairment can also mean, maybe you’re just exceptionally tired,” said Ingrid Brakop, Road Safety Coordinator with ICBC. “Maybe you’ve been shopping all day at the mall and if you feel that you need a ride home, you know, it’s later in the evening, and you’re even too tired to drive home, you can also call Operation Red Nose.”

Volunteers are still needed for the service, which will run for 15 nights this holiday season, beginning Nov. 29.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

If you are interested in volunteering with Operation Red Nose, you can contact a coordinator at 250-320-0650 or email kamloops@operationrednose.com.

To catch a ride home you can call the Operation Red Nose service line at 250-372-5110.