A $5,000 Vacation Could Be Yours, But There’s a Personal Story Behind This Peterborough Humane Society Prize
/By Scott Arnold
One lucky winner could take home a $5,000 travel voucher through the Peterborough Humane Society’s 50/50 Lottery, thanks to a local travel business owner whose support is rooted in a love of animals.
Mary LaRocque, owner of Marlin Travel Peterborough, spends some time with one of the animals at the Peterborough Humane Society, an organization she’s proud to support through the $5,000 Marlin Travel and Transat Ruffle. (photo by scott arnold)
Mary LaRocque, owner of Marlin Travel Peterborough, has been involved with the Peterborough Humane Society’s 50/50 Lottery for the past few years, helping offer a travel prize alongside the main cash jackpot.
This fall, the Marlin Travel and Transat Ruffle gives one winner a $5,000 travel voucher, with plenty of options for putting it to use.
“It’s $5,000 for the winner and they can book anything with Transat,” LaRocque explained. “There’s lots of options there. It can be flights. It can be an all-inclusive vacation package.”
With winter approaching in the Kawarthas, the timing feels right for someone dreaming of a getaway.
“The timing of this is absolutely perfect,” LaRocque said.
But for LaRocque, the partnership means much more than a chance for someone to win a vacation.
Every animal at the Peterborough Humane Society has a story, and community support helps give them the care and attention they deserve while they wait for their next chapter. (photo by Scott Arnold)
A Tribute to Someone Who Loved Animals
LaRocque said her involvement began after the loss of a cousin who adored animals of all kinds, including dogs, cats and rabbits.
After speaking with Peterborough Humane Society Director of Fund Development Kevin MacKenzie about the organization’s 50/50 Lottery, she saw an opportunity to honour her cousin’s memory.
“I had a cousin of mine that was a true pet fanatic. She loved every kind of pet going, whether it was dogs, cats, rabbits,” LaRocque said. “And unfortunately, she passed away a few years ago.”
When the conversation turned to how she could help the Humane Society, LaRocque realized the Ruffle could be a meaningful way to keep that love of animals alive.
“I thought it’d be a great tribute to her,” she said.
That personal connection has helped make the partnership a natural fit for Marlin Travel Peterborough, which has been part of the local community for decades.
LaRocque has spent 42 years in the travel industry and more than 40 years involved in the community. Her volunteer work has included serving as chair of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Business Network.
“I have V for volunteer, stamped on my head,” she joked. “But it really is part of the community that you need to get involved in volunteering, not just for your business, but for the community itself that supports your business.”
The Marlin Travel and Transat Ruffle offers one lucky winner a $5,000 travel voucher while helping support the Peterborough Humane Society’s work with animals in need. (photo by scott arnold)
A Love of Animals and the Work PHS Does
LaRocque is an animal lover herself, with a dog named Callie who has appeared in some of Marlin Travel’s previous videos.
Visiting the Humane Society can be difficult because she wants to bring all the animals home, she admitted, but she also appreciates seeing the work being done to care for them.
“I love coming to the Humane Society, but I come with bated breath because I love all the animals,” LaRocque said. “I’m a true animal lover. I have a dog myself. My mascot Callie has been on some of the videos in the past, and it’s very hard for me not to want to adopt everyone when I’m here.”
Her visits also give her a chance to see the impact of the organization’s work firsthand.
“But it’s so nice to come and see the great work that the Peterborough Humane Society does,” she said.
For LaRocque, the partnership is a way to support a cause she genuinely cares about while giving back to the community where she has built her business.
“I don’t think there’s a better place for Marlin Travel Peterborough to be a community partner,” she said. “And the 50/50 and the Marlin Travel Transat Ruffle is perfect for us.”
The Peterborough Humane Society’s partnership with Marlin Travel Peterborough offers a chance to win a $5,000 travel voucher while supporting animals in need. (photo by scott arnold)
