Jeanie Baczuk 

SINCE 1995, the Pronghorn Booster Club and a committee, including staff members from the University of Lethbridge, have been organizing Operation Red Nose; a designated driver service that gets drivers, who feel that they have had too much to drink, their passengers and their cars to their destinations safely. Fully confidential and non-judgmental, Red Nose is dedicated to providing a long-term commitment to road safety initiatives while supporting non-profit community youth organizations.

The success of the program relies heavily on volunteer support. Approximately 600 volunteers support Red Nose in Lethbridge annually. Sixty per cent of whom are athletes, coaches, family and friends of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. The funds generously donated by people utilizing the service are then used to support and enhance the Prairie Baseball Academy and Pronghorn Athletics programs.

Originally the brainchild of a Laval University swimming coach who was on the lookout for fundraising opportunities in 1983, Operation Red Nose has been dedicated to providing a service to communities and educating individuals about safe driving alternatives during the holiday season. Since 1983, Red Nose has spread throughout Canada and now has over 100 communities participating annually. In 2006, over $1.3 million was raised nationally and 6,549 volunteers gave 8,961 rides in Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

For the full story pick up the current issue of Lethbridge living Magazine