The annual poker ride at Hogsback Lake in May, to raise awareness about missing Madison Scott, has been cancelled due to the virus pandemic.
Dawn Scott, Madison’s mother said, “We need to keep the awareness going and this is completely devastating. It feels like we’re having to put Maddy being missing on hold, and you just can’t do that with missing people. You must keep the awareness going. We don’t have a choice, it cannot be held. This is another bump in the road and we will continue to move forward until we find Maddy.”
Madison (Maddy) Scott went missing nine years ago. A resident of Vanderhoof, Maddy was 20-years old when she disappeared from Hogsback Lake on May 28, 2011. The lake is down on Blackwater Road, approximately 25 kms south of Vanderhoof.
In an interview last year, Dawn Scott told the Omineca Express that the Scott’s host the event at the Mapes Community Hall near Hogsback Lake to raise awareness more than anything else.
“We host it in the area where she went missing and not so much that we are looking for Maddy there. It is more that she went missing there, so that has an impact on people and helps raise more awareness.”
READ MORE: Madison Scott’s mother hosts event to keep search for her missing daughter alive
However, due to COVID-19, “with heavy hearts” the Madison Scott Search Team have had to officially cancel the 9th year On the Trail to Find Maddy Poker ride.
“Heavy hearts because of COVID-19, it simply isn’t safe to hold this event and heavy hearts because this is the 9th year without Maddy, without answers.”
Although the event has been cancelled, the Team is encouraging people to get out on the trail to Find Maddy in their own way on May 28.
“Get out and hit your own trails (not anyone else’s private property) on your ATV’s, your horses or on foot. Take some time to really take in your surroundings and be aware to anything that is different,” the Madison Scott Search Team said in a statement.
If you see something that you would like to report, reach out to the Vanderhoof RCMP, “something insignificant to you could be life changing for someone else.”
“Above all, please take a moment to think of Madison and other missing people in our communities. Hold them, and their loved ones close to your heart,” the statement read.
For more information, or to make a donation to Find Maddy, please visit www.madisonscott.ca.
Aman Parhar
Editor, Vanderhoof Omineca Express
aman.parhar@ominecaexpress.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
