Across western Canada, September 17 is known as Fuel Good Day, a day when five cents of every litre of Red River Co-op (RRC) gas is donated to charity. This year’s charitable beneficiary of the Manitoba chapter of RRC was the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.
Rose Friesen, co-owner of Country Snacks, says that while they love to participate in the Fuel Good Day promotion, this was an extra special year.
“We got a notice that a child in our community was going to be a beneficiary, so we were pretty excited about that,” says Friesen. “My staff were really pumped and they’ve been asking people all week for donations towards the charity.”
Randy Andrusiak is the senior director of RRC Manitoba’s gas bar operations and was on site in Niverville for Fuel Good Day.
When his committee chose the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation as this year’s benefactor, he says the organization was quick to point out the need for tablets and specialized bikes for kids dealing with special needs.
Nine-year-old Peter Bueckert is the recipient of one of RRC’s Fuel Good Day bike donations, each with a value of around $4,500. Peter is one in a set of triplets born to Niverville parents Keith and Danielle Bueckert. Peter lives with autism and is nonverbal.
Peter’s mom, grandparents, and two sisters joined him at the Niverville Co-op on Fuel Good Day to participate in the charitable event. Peter’s sisters paraded placards on the streetside, encouraging commuters to fill up and make their donation.
Mom Danielle Bueckert is ecstatic that her son was chosen to receive one of the specialty bikes.
“He gets to ride one of those bikes in school and he loves it,” Danielle says. “The one we’ll be getting is for at home, so that as a family we can go for bike rides and spend time out in the front yard, which we normally can’t because of his disability.”
Danielle describes Peter as fully functioning in terms of mobility. The bike, which was recommended by Peter’s in-school occupational therapist, provides Peter and his support team with a way to help channel his energy.
“He’s tried the two-wheeler bike with the training wheels but unfortunately we haven’t had success with that,” Danielle says. “But we’ve had success with the specialty bike in school because somebody can be behind him pushing and helping him out.”
Prior to using the bike, Peter often ran through the school’s hallways. When outside at home, he had a tendency to bolt, forcing the Bueckerts to remain always on guard.
It was Peter’s occupational therapist who told them about the Fuel Good Day donation and helped them apply. The new specialized pedal bike is fully adjustable to grow with Peter as he grows.
Thanks to the RRC Fuel Good Day event, children like Peter will have one more tool in their toolbox to enjoy active participation with their peers and families.
Andrusiak says RRC puts out a call every year for charities to apply for Fuel Good Day donations. Every year, his committee tries to choose a different charity from the year before.
But according to Andrusiak, no one goes home empty-handed. If a charity applies, even if they are not selected as the focus organization for the year, they still receive a special donation.
