The Subaru of Orillia Charity Ski Day event raised more than $7,400 for Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) on Friday.
Mark Shivers, the general manager of Subaru of Orillia, says this year's event looked to be in peril late last week.
"Thankfully The Heights Ski & Country Club was able to move some snow around for us," he said. "They called me the day before and said they were able to get one lift and two runs open for us."
Shivers says the event wasn't as well attended as it had been in previous years.
"That was primarily due to the weather," he said. "I think a lot of skiers put their equipment away for the season."
Where the event lacked skiing, it made up for at the silent auction table.
"We had the most successful silent auction that we've ever had," Shivers said. "That's a big thanks to our local businesses who donated great prizes to help make the event a success."
Shivers says the Ski Day event had a great atmosphere again this year.
"The weather was beautiful, and everyone was happy," he said. "The people who showed up were happy to support the cause with a lot of smiling faces."
This year, funds raised from the event are being donated directly to cancer care at OSMH.
"We had lost one of our long-time employees to cancer this year," Shivers explained. "That's why we made the decision to direct the funds towards that."
Shivers says everybody has been touched by cancer and the cause is close to his heart.
He said he hopes to see the Ski Day event return again in the winter of 2025 ... and is hoping the forecast calls for more favorable weather for skiing.
