Kids at Portage District General Hospital have a fancy new set of wheels to ride to the operating room.

Enns Brothers donated a battery powered miniature ride-on tractor — similar in size to a power wheels powered ride-on car — to the hospital earlier today. The tractor will be used for kids awaiting surgery to drive from their hospital rooms to the operating room.

“The hospital had inquired about a ride-on toy for the children and I thought it was such a great idea to take the children's minds off of surgery,” says Enns Bros Portage la Prairie branch manager Gary Bohn. “I was happy to be a part of that and to be able to donate to that program.”

Bohn was on-hand this morning as Mason Pettinger took the tractor for its first test spin. Seeing Mason rip down the hallways of the hospital on the tractor, care-free and sporting a wide smile, was a moment that touched Bohn.

“It was pretty awesome. You could see he was pretty excited. His mind wasn't on surgery, he was just enjoying the ride,” Bohn says. “It's just a great idea to take the kids' minds off surgery, and have a little fun on the way.”

Portage District General Hospital surgeon Dr. Bernard Thess, who performs a lot of pediatric procedures, spawned the idea, Director of Health Services Noreen Shiftliff explains.

“He's seen this happening in other children's hospitals in Winnipeg and Brandon. He thought it would be fantastic for kids coming to Portage Hospital to have an opportunity to do something like this,” Shiftliff says. “To be able to drive the tractor to the operating room, it definitely does take the stress off of a very stressful situation. Even for parents, it helps to be able to watch their kids have a good time heading down to the operating room.”

“Obviously a huge thank you to Enns Brothers because this is an awesome donation for us. There is going to be years of happiness around that tractor.”