Wertz Warriors celebrating three decades of Special Olympics support
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
The Wertz Warriors will be making stops today (Friday) in Presque Isle County. The 30th annual Snowmobile Endurance Ride raises money for Michigan Special Olympics. The 900-mile journey began in Mount Clemens and ends Saturday in Petoskey.
There will be stops at Stoney Creek (SC) Restaurant and Lounge today at noon for lunch and a presentation; and then to the Fraternal Order of Eagles north of Millersburg for dessert between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.
SC owners, Rod and Judy Crawford, spearedheaded fundraising efforts that have brought in $13,500 this year. They conducted a golf scramble in September, as well as an auction and Texas Hold?em Tournament in January.
The Millersburg Eagles raised $1,500 from ongoing raffles conducted throughout the year.
?It is a huge endeavor for a lot of these communities,? said Wertz Warriors member Ken Mattei. ?There are a lot of friends we’ve made over those 30 years that you only see once a year and the folks come in to see them.
?Without these local communities we would not be able to hold the Winter Games. For a lot of these Northern Michigan communities it’s a community effort, their form of fun and giving back. They have a great time doing it. People dig deep in their pockets, and give from hearts and it shows.?
VIC WERTZ, a former Detroit Tiger pitcher, had a dream ?to completely underwrite the Special Olympics, Michigan State Winter Games. In 1981, Wertz set out and succeeded in enlisting many people to help him with his dream. The Warriors have traveled a combined 1.1 million miles on their snowmobiles and have raised nearly $8 million.
The riders are always looking for new members, and new members are only asked to raise $2,000 their first year. The Wertz Warriors come from all walks of life, whether as a rider or as a member of the support crew.
?There are few rookie riders; many are in their 50s, 60’s and even 70s,? said Mattei. ?Some can no longer ride due to health issues. Other riders have passed on in recent years, like Mark ?The Bird’ Fidrych. When Mark was alive, everyone looked forward to seeing him.?
The Wertz Warriors are still searching for an ?unofficial spokesperson? or figurehead to lead the group. But they know no one could ever fill Mark’s shoes. ?We won’t find someone like that. He was someone who gave of his time and celebrity status and didn’t ask for anything in return,” said Mattei.
The economy has taken a toll on the fundraising efforts in recent years. It is tough for riders to get a week off work to participate in the ride. The Wertz Warriors now offer split rides, so new members don’t have to ride the full week. The first snowmobile endurance ride in 1982 raised $26,000.