Operation Red Nose Breaks Record for Rides on First Weekend
Monday, December 3, 2012 @ 9:31 AM
Prince George, B.C.- Operation Red Nose is off to a positive start. The volunteers provided a record number of 122 safe rides on the opening weekend of its 2012 campaign, breaking a record set in 2010.
The volunteer-based designated driving service provided 82 rides on Saturday and 40 rides on Friday. Those numbers eclipse records set in 2010’s opening weekend of 81 rides.
“We are ecstatic with our opening weekend,” said Andrea Johnson, Operation Red Nose spokesperson. “On both nights it was a little slow the first three hours, but right after midnight, that’s when the volume of calls came in and people were ready to go home. We’re glad they called us.”
Eight volunteer teams of three were on the road Friday night beginning at 9 p.m. and by midnight provided 13 rides home. They were busy right until 3 a.m. with another 27 rides.
On Saturday, 13 teams were on the road. By midnight 26 rides were provided, and shortly after the phone at Red Nose headquarters started ringing and the teams provided an astounding 56 rides in three hours.
“There was a bit of a bottleneck from about 12:30 a.m. – 2:15 a.m. and wait times for clients to be picked up was about 30 minutes,” said Johnson. “However the clients did wait and our teams got them home safely.
“I was so proud of the volunteer teams. The majority of them were volunteering with us for the first time and they covered a lot of miles criss-crossing the city. They were tired when they returned to headquarters, but they all had smiles on their faces. They had a lot of fun.”
Operation Red Nose is a free, seasonal service organized by the Rotary Club of Prince George Nechako in partnership with the RCMP and ICBC that not only allows party-goers to get home safely but their vehicles too.
The next weekend of service is Dec. 7 and 8 and organizers expect to have between 15 to 20 teams on hand to deal with the increased demand. Those who require a safe ride home can call 250-962-RIDE.
About 255 volunteers have registered to help Operation Red Nose out this year. Organizers would like about 300 volunteers and to help during New Year’s Eve. They can go to www.ornpg.ca to apply.
Comments
It is nice to see most people got the message . Keep up the good work operation red nose. You are a valuable service to both the community and the licenced establishments in our city.
Thank you for the good work your doing, and the lives your saving.
i used them Saturday night, they were very quick and very pleasant to deal with, good job! and i thank you very much.
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