Premium Sausage cancer riders, BBQ Saturday

Cyclists making their way across Canada on the National Kids Cancer Ride will make a pit stop at Premium Sausage in Seven Persons on Saturday.

In past years the ride has only gone along Highway 1 in this part of the country. With this year’s group being split into two and one group cycling Highway 3, Premium Sausage is happy to welcome the riders, whose arrival is anticipated at about 2:30 p.m.

Debra Penner, who co-owns Premium Sausage with her husband Mark, says they’ll be having a free community barbecue from noon to 3 p.m.

"For the last two years given sausage for their Medicine Hat meal,” Debra said of their involvement with the ride. "For us it’s important because we have some very close connections, relatives who have children who are battling cancer. It’s close to our hearts.”

Along with the community barbecue, where donation will be accepted, Premium Sausage will provide snack packs to the riders and present a cheque, and Greg Watson from Cyclepath will be on hand to provide basic maintenance to any bicycles that need it. Representatives from Seven Persons School will also present a cheque to the riders, said Debra.

Among the group of 23 riders and 22 volunteers slated to be in Seven Persons is Medicine Hat’s David Dale.

Debra said many people are looking forward to meeting the riders.

"They’re all doing it for their own reasons so I see this as an opportunity for the community come out and mix a mingle and get to know these people."