With fuel prices increasing more rapidly than anticipated there was no better time for the Rocky View Regional Handibus Society to receive an $8,500 donation from Cochrane’s Gryzko Harper Bouw chartered accountants firm.

The handibus society’s general manager Paul Siller was thrilled they were chosen to receive the proceeds from the firm’s annual charity poker tournament held at the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino on Oct. 27.

“This has been a year when we weren’t planning on the price of fuel to go up so high so fast,” says Siller. “A donation of this size caught us at a time when we could really make use of it. It was wonderful good fortune for us.”

He says the price of fuel rose 50 cents per litre in a year they had budgeted for a 25 cent increase. When you purchasing 80,000 litres of fuel a year to operate a fleet of 32 vehicles that's a huge climb in operating costs.

Many local causes have been supported by the annual charity tournament that has taken place for 10 years. Each year a partner in the firm selects a benefactor and past recipients include the Cochrane & Area Humane Society, Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area, the Cochrane Activettes, the United Way and other community initiatives, like playground projects. Normally they fill the casino’s games room with 40 fun-loving players.

Gryzko Harper Bouw has been serving Cochrane for nearly 30 years.

$118,500 more sought in Bus Replacement Campaign

Meanwhile, the handibus society’s 2018 Bus Campaign is seeking $118,500 to reach its $250,000 fundraising goal to replacement three aging vehicles in their fleet.

Two Cochrane families have made a huge difference in this campaign.

The Estate of Gerald Sedler bequeathed a low mileage 2015 passenger van in June. It will be converted for use at a cost of $40,000.

This fall, they received a $96,000 donation from the Estate of Don Reed and that has made it possible to order one of the new buses sought.

Other contributors include $8,000 from TransCanada Corporation and $11,000 from the Rocky View Handibus Society itself.

The fundraising drive will continue until they reach their target, says Siller.

He says the donations received from Cochrane are greatly appreciated.

The region served by the society has a combined population of 96,000 with a service area of about 4,200 sq. km.

The service continues to see double-digit increases in utilization and it's heavily utilized by Cochrane residents, largely for medical and respite needs.

The vehicles they are purchasing are cut-away style buses with flex-seating for up to four wheelchairs or eight ambulatory passengers.