The McGlynn family is preparing to begin on a 215 kilometer, two-day journey from Toronto to Niagara Falls as they continue to honor the memory of their daughter and sister Jocelyn McGlynn.
Peter and Jacquelyn McGlynn and their sons Maxx and Zach, along with three other friends, will be riding as the ‘I’m In for Jocelyn’ team in the 15th annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer being held June 11-12.
After hearing from people who would like to ride, but not 200-plus kilometers, the McGlynn’s recently decided to organize the local ‘Roc’s Ride to Conquer Cancer’ in honor of Jocelyn, whose nickname was Rocky, that will be held on May 14.
The event will begin at Heuvlemans Chevy Buick GMC Cadillac dealership on Grand Avenue West in Chatham. There are two routes for the ride, including a 23-kilometre loop to the Prairie Siding Bridge and back along the Thames River on the recently completed bike paths on Grande River Line and Riverview Line. There is also a three-kilometre loop for children along Keil Drive North to Campus Parkway back to the dealership.
“All you have to do is donate to the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer to get into our local ride,” Peter McGlynn said.
“Just show up for a leisurely ride – it’s not race,” he laughed.
Jacquelyn McGlynn added, “You don’t have to have a road bike, just have a bike.”
The McGlynn’s would like to see the local ride grow in the future.
This is just the latest way they are giving back to honor the memory of Jocelyn, whose courageous battle with acute myelomoncytic leukemia included her efforts to promote others to register as stem cell donors and raise funds and awareness to cure blood cancers. Before Jocelyn succumbed to cancer in August 2020 at age 23, she had inspired more than 2,000 people to join the stem cell registry.
“Jocy wanted to live and because of that she was an advocate trying to make sure whatever she was going through, nobody else had to,” Peter McGlynn said.
“We want to celebrate her life and make sure the things she did start are remembered,” he added.
McGlynn said being a part of the fight against cancer is just another way of living life and celebrating the days they can help with the cause.
He is impressed with how dedicated his wife is to participating in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.
“I’m doing 101 kilometer rides, it takes about four hours,” Jacquelyn said.
She added she’s had one weekend where she had cycled 100 kilometers one day and 70 kilometers the next as she works up two-day journey in June.
The McGlynn’s like that the Enbridge event raises money for the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, which is where Jocelyn received her second stem-cell transplant.
“They took such good care of her,” Peter McGlynn said.
The McGlynn’s are requesting a minimum donation of $20 to the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer – www.ride2conquer.ca – to participate in Roc’s Ride to Conquer Cancer. They ask donations be made to Maxx and Zach’s links for the Enbridge ride. The team ‘I’m In for Jocelyn’ is in the top 25 of the community category of teams with less than 10 members having already raised over $16,250.
For details on how to register for the local ride, email [email protected].