TILLSONBURG If you see a cycling GCC super hero in the area, it’s not really Spiderman or Superman.
It might be Scott Gooding of Tillsonburg riding in the 2022 Great Cycle Challenge, fundraising to fight childhood cancer.
A GCC ‘hero’ cycling jersey is awarded to participants who raise more than $2,500, which Gooding accomplished in 2020 and 2021.
They are snug fits, Gooding admitted.
“I don’t tend to wear them because they’re cycling jerseys and… my body really isn’t for that. They’re skin-tight,” Gooding laughed. “But it’s nice that you get recognized for that kind of stuff.”
He hopes to get a bigger cycling jersey this summer. He’ll find out soon – a new jersey is in the mail.
“It’s a nice advertisement (for GCC) to have the shirt. Some people know what I’m doing out there, but some don’t. Maybe next year I’ll get a T-shirt made.”
Gooding is riding in the Simcoe Chapter of the Great Cycle Challenge, which includes riders from Tillsonburg, Otterville, Simcoe, Waterford, Delhi, Port Dover, Vanessa and Langton. A retired teacher, Gooding grew up in Delhi.
You can donate to the Great Cycle Challenge through a link on Gooding’s page at the GCC site greatcyclingchallenge.ca/riders/ScottGooding – or find another rider from the area to support at greatcyclingchallenge.ca.
“It’s been a challenge this year,” said Gooding, who is riding shorter distances than in previous years, “but I’m still getting out there.”
His goal this month is 400 km. Last year he planned to cycle 750 km and actually surpassed 1,000 km.
“It’s a little less than last year’s total, and I may end up doing more (than 400 km) anyways, but this year I wanted to set a more reasonable goal. Last year it was 25-km every day and that was pushing it with the bike I have – a fairly cheap mountain bike. I need to get a newer bike. When you miss a day, and I did that once last summer, I said I’m not doing that again (50-km the next day).”
He figures 15-km average trips should be a better fit in a hot, humid month.
“So far that’s worked out, but it hasn’t been easy – especially the first day. The more I’m doing it, the easier it gets. I’m getting used to the pace.”
His daily cycling will continue until the end of August, but people can continue to donate to the Great Cycle Challenge through September.
In the past two years Gooding, has raised more than $20,000 to help support the SickKids Foundation.
“That’s just how great our community is in supporting things like that.”
His fundraising target this year is $5,000.
“Things are tough right now, not only with COVID but with inflation and all that kind of stuff. Hopefully I can get more than that, but I want to be realistic. If I get more it would be great. If not, it is what it is. Every little bit counts towards the biggest thing which is of course raising money to help fight childhood cancer.”
Gooding, who was among Ontario’s Top 10 GCC riders in 2021, rides in memory of his mother, Betty, a former Citizen of the Year in Delhi.
Courtland Vinyl Windows was a major sponsor last year, he noted, along with Glendale High School’s prom committee.
“I would like to try to contact a number of businesses and industries in town this year because there are a lot of former Glendale students of mine that are now owners. It’s not about the amount – that’s not what matters – it’s whether you do it or not.”