GENESEE COUNTY/Last Bikini Rally includes wheelers instead of snowmobiles, record amount raised for the Pink Fund

On an early spring like day, at almost 40 degrees and sunny, not many people were thinking about snowmobiling.

Instead on February 3rd, four-wheeler season arrived a bit early in Oakfield.

“None of us wanted to bring our sleds out in the mud, so we said let’s just do ATVs, last minute we decided to change it,” said Dawn Clark Co-organizer.

The decision to switch to ATVs was made last Saturday to be exact.

“A lot of the riders already had their own machines and then we had some friends that let us use some of theirs.”

22 riders participated in the rally and events leading up to the rally. This year a record $37,579.09 was raised for the Pink Fund, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to those battling breast cancer. Funds can be used for cost-of-living expenses and cover things like mortgage, rent, utility bills, and auto payments, while breast cancer patients are in active treatment for 3 months.

The Bikini Rally is also a fundraiser for the Genesee Sno Packers Snowmobile Club to benefit the clubhouse and groomer operations.

This was the 10th and final year for the Bikini Rally in Oakfield.

“We’re going to do other things to raise funds for the Pink Fund,” says Co-organizer Jen Ryan.

“We’re thinking about a golf tournament, or a pig roast, things like that. We’re going to do it in a different way next year. This takes 9-10 months to plan, all of our pop-up events, fundraising, it’s a lot.”

Genesee Sno Packers Vice President Nate Fix says they are raffling off 2023 Polaris 570 Ranger in April on behalf of the club.

“Next year we hope to take this unit, take some proceeds and put it towards the Pink Fund so we continue the Pink Fund on a yearly basis from here on out.”

Organizers (left-right) Jane Chaddock, Dawn Clark, Samantha Hilchey and Jen Ryan say they will still fundraise for the Pink Fund, but the Bikini Rally event will not take place next year.

“These girls have a lot of work even before the day has come on top of setting up for it, all the different events they go to, to promote the Pink Fund and the Bikini Rally, it was pretty endless for them. We thank everyone for their continued support over the years and a huge shout out to all the girls in the club who have kept this event so strong and going.”