THUNDER BAY - For the past nine years, cyclists have been taking to the roads just outside of Thunder Bay in support of cancer research, and cyclist Lorna MacAskill has been there every year.
“If you like to cycle, if you like the fresh air, and you want to get out and get some exercise and join a great group of people and support a fantastic cause, come out and you’ll find you will keep coming back, just like I do,” MacAskill said.
MacAskill was one of more than 350 cyclists participating in this year’s Caribou Charity Ride. The ride includes a 100 km, 75 km, and 50 km route that takes riders down Highway 61 and Highway 588 as far as South Gillies.
In the last nine years, the Caribou Charity Ride has raised more than $270,000 in support of the Northern Cancer Fund. Mark Henderson, regional vice president for Cancer Care Ontario, said he expects this year will raise more than $40,000.
“There are 350 people riding,” he said. “That is a lot for a town the size of Thunder Bay. It’s extremely helpful for the Northern Cancer Fund and the foundation.”
“The government does not provide all the funds we need to provide cancer care in the hospital and the Foundation does a great job every year in raising funds for research, patient care, and buying equipment,” Henderson continued.
The money raised also helps support regional cancer care centres throughout Northwestern Ontario.
“This is a very important event,” Henderson said. “It raises a lot of money for us and allows us to buy infusion pumps for some of the smaller centres and chemotherapy chairs. Its little things like that that mean a lot for the patients.”
MacAskill said during her nine years participating in the ride, there has always been a strong turnout, which she believes is due to the nature of the event and what it accomplishes.
“I like cycling and I like the fact that it is an event that promotes cancer research and all the money is going to the Northern Cancer fund in Thunder Bay and staying here to help all the people here who need to have treatment and people who come through the region that do,” she said.
And while the money raised helps improve access to cancer care throughout the region, the ride itself helps promote a healthy lifestyle and Henderson said physical fitness is an important tool for not only preventing cancer, but treating it as well.
“It’s been well shown that people who are fitter and keep their weight down have less cancer,” he said. “And even people who are unfortunate enough to get cancer they actually do better and feel better if they are in an exercise program.”
“Cycling is an event that the average person can do,” MacAskill added. “You don’t need to be a professional, you can just enjoy the sport, have a good ride, it’s not competitive, it’s a lot of fun, and it brings people from all walks of life. It’s just a great community event.”
