As of Friday morning, 130 Sarnia-area cyclists had rolled more than 9,600 kilometers and raised $51,300 for the Great Cycle Challenge for Canada’s SickKids Foundation.
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And there’s still plenty of cycling left.
Roel Bus, a Sarnia firefighter, has been part of the annual August fundraiser since it began in 2016. This year, he’s been joined by firefighters Shawn Schinkel, Mike Lumley, Dani Girard and Amberly Durdon, and other members of the Challenge’s Sarnia Chapter.
“The beauty of this fundraiser is that everyone sets their own goals,” Bus said.
Each rider decides how many kilometers they want to cycle during August, then seeks donations online at greatcyclechallenge.ca to support research into treatments and a cure for childhood cancer.
It’s open to riders of all ages and fitness levels.
The number of Sarnia-area riders in the challenge has remained constant over the years, Bus said. “Most people will know someone who rides.”
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Nationally, more than 13,300 cyclists were involved as of Friday and had collectively covered north of 1 million kilometers and raised mire than $6.2 million.
“Everyone one of them is riding to fight childhood cancer for their own reasons,” Bus said. “We all know someone who has passed away from cancer.”
Bus is riding this year in memory of Jesse Morningstar, grandson of a former work colleague.
His goal is 1,000 km, a target he reached in 2023, he said. “For me, that’s ambitious enough.”
In 2023, Bus raised $6,600, its highest annual total to date.
Cycling to and from work adds 30 km to his total, and he and several other local firefighters took part in a first responders’ ride during this summer’s Bluewater International Granfondo cycling event in the Sarnia area.
Cycling has always been part of his life, Bus said.
“I was born in Holland and I lived there for 25 years,” he said. “Everybody rides their bike in Holland.”
His high school was 5 km away and Bus said he cycled there and back every school day.
Later on, he began cycling to work in Sarnia and got involved in the annual granfondo.
“It’s just a great way to be outside, and good exercise,” Bus said.
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