Multiple mushers and sled dogs will be braving the elements this weekend for a good cause.
Team Controlled Chaos will be camping out at Heritage Village this weekend raising funds for their rescue dogs and the Autism Society of Wood Buffalo.
This is the third year they’ve camped out with last year’s event raising around $2,000 for them and the Centre of Hope.
Member Dave Stearman tells Mix News this initiative is the brainchild of team leader Randy Mackenzie.
“His vision was essentially to give back to the community because the community has given them so much in terms of tours and through recognition – he’s also a small business owner.”
Four members of Controlled Chaos will be taking part. It gets underway at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and ends at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Stearman says this event can be tough to jump into right away, depending on the weather.
“The last few weeks have been really tough, we’ve sort of dipped into minus 18’s and waking up into minus 21’s. It is really tough and you add the windchill factor when you’re training.”
Between eight to 10 dogs will also be joining the team on the campout.
Around six will also be up for adoption.
“These dogs have aged out of the sport, so they might be just too old to pull a sled and we’re looking for wonderful family homes for them.”
The group recently decorated 51 ornaments, one for each of their dogs, and are putting them on sale to raise funds. Each is named after a dog and includes a brief bio of the four-legged friend.
The public is welcome to come and visit as well as meet the dogs.