The Riders are always out in the community trying to make a difference and along the way they have touched the lives of many people.

So we invite all Rider fans to tell us your story about how the Riders have made a difference in your life.

Just simply send us a summary of your encounter, in 250 words or less, about how a Rider has affected your life and gone the extra mile, so we can share it with all of Rider Nation. Pictures may also be included.

These fan submitted stories can be sent via email to communications@saskriders.com

I have a 14 year old granddaughter who used to live in Regina.  She since moved to northern New Brunswick.  During the last 3 years she has become a Roughrider fan.  Even though she only got to visit Regina once a year (to visit her dad), and she only attended very few "live" 
games.

Last year she spent 2 weeks in the hospital in New Brunswick during the GreyCup game, and all by herself, she decorated the elevator and the hallway on her floor in Rider colours.  She got special permission from her doctor to stay up late (3 hours time difference) to watch the game in the visitors lounge.  Since then she has single-handedly converted many northern New Brunswickers to being Rider Fans.  Many were'nt even aware of football...period.  But now they're excited 
about the Riders.   She is so proud of herself and can't wait to go to her next game.  She bought her dad 2 tickets to attend a game for father's day, and of course she expects he'll take her.  lol.   She (Makayla) arrives in Regina on the 24th to live permanently.  Her family will be all dressed in Green and most likely we will totally embarrass her as she comes down the escalator.

Just thought I would share this warm, fuzzy story about one of your young dedicated fans.

Thank you.

My son is part of one of the Ranch Erhlo Day camps held by of course Ranch Erhlo.  On July 5, 2010 we were informed that their group would be going to the practice to meet the riders and get some autographs.  Well, my son (whom is autistic) was ecstatic.  He had just finished playing his first season in the Flag Football League and "winning" a medal and is now right into football...he has a seriously awesome throw...was super excited.  We ended up taking him to the rider store and buying him a rider football and some markers so that he could have it signed by them! 
 
He was so excited when I went to pick him up the next day...he had gotton all the team signatures except one (still trying to figure out which one)...he insisted on rubbing it in on his uncle through text and calling his dad at work to say, ha I got all the signatures and met them and you didn't...LOL
 
Thank you for giving a child that is sometimes otherwise in his own little world a break from being socially accepted! 
 
Jessica Seffelaar-Nagy

I am a Grade Six teacher at Hillcrest Public School in Estevan. We participated in the “Where is Riderville?” competition this past week and I would like to tell you about the positive impact this event had on our school and our school community.

Our school in the past has had a reputation. Some of our kids do not always come from the best situations and we experience a lot of troubling events and situations. We work very hard to give kids a safe and caring place to be but that is at times very difficult.

This week, we changed that view of our school.

We decorated, and I mean decorated!! From the Kindergarten watermelon board and football players, the Grade one football bobble heads- to the Grade Eight “We Kick Gluteus Maximus” display. The halls are full of Rider colours, Rider displays and even a row of 100 helmets with 100 names of Roughrider record holders. The place is a glow with green and white. We have experienced a large immigrant population in Estevan and consequently in our school in the last few years. We set up a display where all the different multicultural groups were represented with their flags, footballs painted in their countries colours and even “Go Riders” written in their languages.

Decorating is one thing, something that is fun and creative, but it isn’t the heart of what happened here this week.

Our school came together, united for one cause- we were definitely Rider Nation.

Monday we started a week long raffle campaign featuring a Wes Cates autographed sock monkey. Mr. Cates was generous enough to sign this for our school at the Collage Cultural Fair in Estevan. The kids were really excited about this!! We also had some t-shirts, hats, watermelon candy and a snack pack full of green food to give away. We also started a week long pass, punt and kick competition for each grade.
 
Tuesday night we hosted a Tailgate BBQ run by our Spirit Club. We had alumni from our K-8 school that play football at the Comprehensive stop by and play some football with our kids. It was great to see them. We had people come to the BBQ that were community members- not just families from the school. We had kids everywhere!!

Wednesday and Thursday we had “RIDE”r bike rodeo and “GREEN” lunch day. We also started to notice something about this time. Our kids were different this week. We had very few discipline issues on the playground and in the classrooms. The kids were working in the halls and were on task. They were dressing in green every day, they were smiling, they were happy. It was amazing to see the spirit of this week taking over at our school.

Friday was our Grand Finale- our Rider Track and Field event.

Our day started with a Pep Rally featuring our newly formed Grade 6-8 Marching Band. Our band teacher Mr. Ellis-Tottington decided three weeks back when we started planning this event that we would form a marching band and go in the parade. It seemed like a crazy idea, but you know what, they were fantastic!! They played “On Roughriders” “Let’s Go Band” and “O When the Saints”

Our kids all showed up to the Pep Rally dressed in Green sporting Rider helmets we made out of cut up milk jugs. Each Grade did them in their own way, decorated them up and wore them. They also all had Rider Spirit noisemakers made out of whatever the teachers decided. It was loud!! We had the Rider Pride Judges attend the rally as they had challenged up to be the Riderville School.

We had class chants, we sang Green is the Colour, we danced and had fun. Two of our Grade Eight girls spoke about how Hillcrest is like the Riders. Sometimes, we are the underdogs but we have lots of heart, and can come out on top! They talked about how Rider fans are inclusive, we span the country, we have spirit and we are unified. There characteristics we think, fit our school. We are inclusive- our multicultural students dressed in traditional outfits for the pep rally, in green, we have spirit- all students participated in one way or another. We are unified- school should always be that safe place where you feel a  part of something. Our kids were a part of this, in a very big way.

We took a school photo all greened up and then went on to Track and Field for the day- which, by the way, was all football- Rider themed.

The parade was wonderful. All the kids (about 40 of them) that said they would march. . . marched! It was incredible.

After the parade we met at the local Co-op for a carnival and that is where they announced that Hillcrest had won the school competition. It was amazing!! We were so proud.

Since Friday I have heard numerous comments from community members praising our school for what we did. I think that praise belongs to the kids and also to the cause we took on, Rider football.

We are changing the view of Hillcrest School- we are now in the enviable role of being the Rider School in Estevan. We are going to celebrate that for the remainder of this year and for the years to come.

Thank you to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the opportunity to celebrate 100 years with them. For us, it has become more than just celebrating a team, it has become about celebrating a new vision for a place that needs the opportunity to believe!

Go Riders!

Amber Fornwald
Hillcrest School- Rider School!!

My Husband was born into a huge Roughrider fan family.

Being that his family name is Field it was a given that the first born son his older brother was named Taylor so we now have Taylor Field. When he was born his Dad wanted to name him George Reed Field his Mom thought he was getting a bit carried away so she comprimised with Colbey Reed Field after the great George Reed. I was in car sales a few years back and a common rep let me know what dealership George was at and we began communicating via e-mail. George agreed to sign a retro jersey for my husband for a gift. So I ventured out from Lloydminster in the middle of a winter snow storm to Calgary before Christmas. We had the pleasure of meeting the great George Reed. What a wonderful kind man. He kindly signed an autograph for my husband my father in law and my 7 year old daughter. This tickled all of them! In fact my father in law almost jumped out of his chair.Which wasa wonderful experience to have such a great legend take the time of day to do this for huge Saskatchewan Roughrider family of fans! We personally had a new baby which was a true blessing 8 years after our first daughter. We added a new daughter on November 11, 2010 and my husband was determined to name her so we now have RYDER SADIE FIELD! which fits well with this extreme case of Saskatchewan Roughrider fans! Did I mention my 67 year old father in law Bernie Field pedals his bike from Lloydminster to Regina several times a year to enjoy his seat with hisseason tickets!  My daughter Kendall has never been able to make a game yet so on her small Christmas wish list this year she wanted tickets a game so as soon as they can her Uncle Taylor said he will take her. We will see you in the stands fellow Rider fans!Thank you George!

Angela Field

Its hard to narrow down how one rider has changed or touched my life...

As I grow older, I realize just how important the Riders are to not just myself, but for Saskatchewan, the CFL, and Canada...

There is one thing that is always guaranteed at any game involving the Riders...there will always be someone with a watermelon on their head, or a Rider jersey, or a huge Rider flag...

Our team may not always win the Grey Cup or even make the playoffs for that matter, but you know that 9x out of 10, your gonna be in a battle against us...

Thinking of the greats that played for the Green and White:
Ron Lancaster
George Reed
Ray Elgaard
Gene Makowsky
Kent Austin
Don Narcisse
Bobby Jurasin
Glen Suitor
Dave Ridgeway
Jeff Fairholm
Geez, the list goes on and on...but these names are only a few of the guys that make me proud to be a Rider fan...

Its not just one player that has changed my life...its simply Rider Nation!

Billy Baker

A True Southern Gentleman

In early August I had a chance meeting with Eric Tillman where we briefly exchanged some pleasantries and parted company.  Mr. Tillman was very touched by a remark I made and he mentioned it to a mutual acquaintance.  The acquaintance informed Mr. Tillman that my husband, Jim, had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and that our life had been anything but smooth for some time.  Upon learning this, it gave my remark even more impact.  Mr. Tillman left his number with our mutual acquaintance and asked to have me call as he would like to do something nice for our family.  When I called I thought, it was a nice gesture, but didn’t believe it to be anything more.  Was I wrong.  Mr. Tillman initially offered us some game tickets, however Jim’s illness made going to a game impossible.  Mr. Tillman then offered a football signed by the team, an offer we accepted with delight.  True to his word, a few days later Mr. Tillman, accompanied by Neal Hughes, came to our home and personally presented the signed football to Jim who was overwhelmed by their generosity.  Our son, who bleeds Rider green, brought out his jersey for Neal and Mr. Tillman to sign.  Mr. Tillman thought two signatures weren’t enough and offered to take the jersey to the clubhouse and have the team sign it.  Unfortunately before the jersey came back, Jim passed away.  Upon hearing this, Mr. Tillman got as many signatures as he could and again, personally, brought it to our home.  He spent close to an hour with our family.  He gave us a very bright spot in a very dark point in our lives.  Mr. Tillman’s visits were sincere, heartfelt, caring, and the acts of a true southern gentleman.  Our family will always remember the kindness he showed Jim. We wish him well now and on into the future. 

Good Luck, Mr. Tillman.   

Donna Daniels and family  

We just wanted to extend our sincere thanks to both you for helping organize this as well as Luca for his appearance at our United Way Kick-Off yesterday afternoon.  Our crowd certainly appreciated his willingness to sign autographs or appear in pictures, but more importantly, I really think they were impressed (as I know I was) with Luca's messaging about the importance of community and the role each of us have in helping others achieve their dreams.

Thanks again!
Chantelle

 On Saturday, my girls and I attended the Green and White Day in Saskatoon at Griffith Stadium. It was a beautiful day to have the Riders in our city. Well I just wanted to send a big thank you to Ken for helping my daughter's dream come true. Not only did he go above and beyond his call of duty that day but he made her the happiess girl on this planet.
 
 She above all wanted to meet Weston Dressler, her favorite player on the team. We got alot of autographs that day but it was his that she wanted the most. Upon the five minute warning about the players having to go to the field, she was very disappointed because she had not met Dressler yet. So as Ken was walking back to the dressing room, I had asked him if he would find Dressler so that my daughter could meet him. He went into the dressing room and could not find him but assured us that he would have to walk past us and that we should wait right there. Now this is where he went above and beyond, he waited there with us until he saw Weston Dressler and asked him to come over and meet his biggest fan. My daughter was so happy as Dressler walked up to her and gave her the biggest smile. As there was no one else around and she had him there all by herself.
 
 So a very big Thank You to Ken and Weston for making my daughter's dream come true!!!
 
Sincerly,
 
A very happy Mom and Rider Fan.
 
Annette Wacholtz

Dear Rider fans, players, and staff:

(Rider season ticket holders from this day on!)

Brennan shows off his autographed Christmas gift, thanks to Dawn and Matt!

Hi, I know that this happened almost 2 years ago but it is still something that is talked about daily in our house. 

My husband had taken our 3 year old son to Green and White day in Saskatoon for training camp. Here pictures were taken with fans and players. My son spotted Kent Austin and wanted his picture taken and from that point on he was the biggest "Kent Austin fan". 

She had returned the email saying that Kent was proud of his little fan, I had asked if there was any way to get the picture signed, she said to mail it to her and she would take care of it all. We did just that and a week later when we went to the next game there were the pictures signed by Kent. The season came to an end and we had learned that Kent Austin was going to leave as the Head Coach. When Andrew heard of this he cried. 

He said the Riders would never be the same, but he would always have his picture to look at and remember. This past season we took Andrew to the Labour Day classic and he was happy to meet all the riders. When Andrew was asked who his favorite Rider was he would say Kent Austin, and the players would look at each other and say yeah he was our favorite too.