Life is often changed by a single decision. For Rudi Fowler, the founder of the 1000 Mile Challenge, it was a commitment to carry out his mother’s challenge: “If you are going to ride a snowmobile that far, then raise money for those kids who cannot afford summer camp.” For Lisa Whiteman, it was her decision to visit the Toronto International Snowmobile & ATV Show in October 2022. More specifically, her decision to stop at the New Brunswick 1000 Mile Challenge booth. After being accepted as a rider for the 2023 fundraising challenge, Lisa teamed up with Jeffrey O’Donnell. Their team rode 1,015 miles in 27 hours.
The 1000 Mile Challenge has now changed the lives of approximately 700 children. Indeed, in the past 4 years, these 700 kids have been sent to seventeen summer camps in New Brunswick, one in Ontario, and six in the United States. This remarkable feat was made possible by the collective efforts of individuals who raised an impressive total of $350,000 through four previous challenges.
Five Years of Changing Lives With the 1000 Mile Challenge
The 1000 Mile Challenge is now set to launch their fifth edition in New Brunswick. It begins on Monday, February 24 and ends on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Changing children’s lives remains the ultimate goal. Now, while the challenge is visually about snowmobiles, it is really about fundraising. After reading this article, we hope that you will feel inspired to donate for the 2025 challenge. In effect, you can visit the event’s website and donate to a specific team or to the 2025 Challenge.
Every registered rider must raise a minimum of $2,500. Although most riders and teams exceed those numbers every year, consider supporting the Challenge. Every dollar counts! You may donate through the event’s website, their Facebook page, or by contacting teams directly. You may also support the 1000 Mile Challenge, teams, or riders with corporate donations.
In the Beginning: The Origins of the 1000 Mile Snowmobile Challenge
Since its creation in 2021, the 1000 Mile Challenge has been an endurance challenge event in New Brunswick, Canada. At first, it was about two snowmobilers setting off on a journey across New Brunswick, with the goal of achieving 1,000 miles in 24 hours. This original format was intoxicating, exhilarating, exciting, and obviously challenging. But the project also received some criticism. It seemed like there were as many supporters as there were detractors. That being said, everyone agreed that the cause (sending kids to camp) was brilliant. So, the organizers asked themselves a question that would change everything.
How could the 1000 Mile Challenge grow, expand and receive even more support than it had garnered from 2021 to 2023?
Because the ultimate goal was to send kids to camp, a paradigm change was adopted for the 2024 event. Multiple teams from multiple jurisdictions in Canada and the United States were invited. Every team and every rider is to focus on fundraising first and the challenge, second.
Teams in 2025 have the entire week, Monday to Saturday to complete the Challenge.
Why the 1000 Mile Challenge Is About Fundraising, Not Racing
Fundamentally, the 1000 Mile Challenge is a fundraising event.
“All other objectives are secondary. This event is not a race. It is a personal endurance challenge which puts a man/woman to the physical and mental test—their machine, their endurance, their navigational and problem-solving skills, and that of their team. Safety is of utmost concern.” —1000 Mile Challenge website.
As we saw in 2024, every team approaches the recommended trails and route differently. Effectively, they don’t have to leave together, and they don’t have to arrive together either. Each team has the entire week to ride the 1,000 consecutive miles. Riders strive to reach this goal at their own pace. Every team’s goal is clearly focused on fundraising. Therefore, the challenge does not include winning a snowmobile race.
The Physical and Mental Challenge of Riding 1,000 Miles
Riding a snowmobile for 1,000 “consecutive” miles (1,610 km) takes immense heart. I had never thought about riding in this context until talking to Lisa Whiteman, a team member from 2023. When I spoke to her, recently, Lisa shared her 1000 Mile Challenge journey with me. “I did not know what [1,000 miles] was going to feel like physically,” she told me. She had never even been to New Brunswick until 2023. She also explained the immense change her participation would bring to her life.
The Lisa Whiteman Story
Lisa Whiteman had been a snowmobiler for many years in southern Ontario, where she lived. When she first participated, in 2023, she assumed her 2014 Polaris 600 INDY SP would be up to it. At the time, it only had about 4,200 miles (6,759 km) on the odometer. We did the calculation over the phone: that meant Lisa had averaged about 467 miles (752 km) per season with her 2014 ride. She had just signed up for 1,000 miles (1610 km) in 24 hours.
It Comes From the Heart
In her words, Lisa told me this was the hardest thing she had ever done. And she ended up overdosing on caffeine pills. She kept riding because of her teammate’s (Jeffrey O’Donnell) encouragement. But, ultimately, it’s the outpouring of messages, kindness, and support from the New Brunswick community that got her to the proverbial finish line.
“It was the last three hours [of riding] where I think I stole their hearts. I was exhausted physically and mentally. At a gas stop, I lay in the snow and closed my eyes for just a moment. Someone took my photo and posted it. There was a $25 contribution from that single post, and then almost instantly another $5,000 in contributions was committed. That is what I mean when I say completing the Challenge comes from your heart. No one achieves this goal alone.” —Lisa Whiteman.
How the 1000 Mile Challenge Changed Her Life
On December 6, 2024, Lisa and her entire family moved to Wakefield, NB. It is now their permanent home. Lisa told me how this move was life changing in so many positive ways. Here is what she said:
“Living here makes me more present in my own life. I am not in a constant state of stress. It is so much better for me, my daughter, with Bobby and for my entire family. I am a better mother, a better partner, and a better person. That is what New Brunswick and the 1000 Mile Challenge mean to me… and how it changed my life.”
Meet the 2025 Teams: Snowmobile Riders from Across Canada and the US
Now, let’s turn to the fifth edition of the 1000 Mile Challenge. There are eighteen (18) registered teams registered this year. There are all-male and all-female teams. Most teams are made up of two riders, but some are larger. Overall, five Canadian provinces and six American states are represented. On the Canadian side, many teams come from New Brunswick, but we also have teams representing Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. On the American side, we welcome teams from Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
The oldest riders are a combined age of 129 years old (two riders), compared to a combined 32 years or age for the youngest. The oldest participant is 67 years old, and the youngest is 15.
Many families are also spread out through the 18 teams. For example, Tony and Lauren Patterson’s father-daughter team hails from Florenceville-Bristol, NB. Then, Yves and Maxime Sonier’s father-son team will be representing Tracadie-Sheila, NB. Maxime’s uncle, Steve Sonier, is also a valuable member of that team.
You can find every 2025 team listed on the 1000 Mile Challenge website so that you may donate directly to them. Please consider donating to encourage the volunteer efforts of every rider, team, and team supporter.
The Future of the 1000 Mile Challenge: Expanding Across North America
Sending kids to summer camp can change their lives. To continue to achieve this, we are asking you to consider contributing financially. We and the organizers are also hoping to see more teams in the future. We would love to see more teams from other Canadian provinces, like Prince Edward Island, Québec, or Manitoba. Our American neighbours from New Hampshire, Vermont, or New York are also welcome to join the fray! Indeed, with more people from across the snow belt, more kids from your home province or state can benefit from the 1000 Mile Challenge’s fundraising. It could change their lives… but it will certainly change yours!
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