THUNDER BAY -- The one positive about the weather Sunday morning is that cyclists participating in the Caribou Charity Ride were not in danger of overheating.
The fifth annual Caribou Charity Ride went off Sunday morning, despite persistent showers and chilly temperatures, with about 350 cyclists taking on the 50 and 100 kilometre distances.
John Sims, a committee member charged with organizing the ride, said the cyclists were working hard enough on the bikes to stay warm, though not necessarily dry.
Sims added it was the cycling community who originally launched the ride, which is now in its sixth year.
“Basically a group of cycling enthusiasts go together along with the Caribou Restaurant and decided to stage a group ride,” he said.
“We thought this was a great way to combine our love of cycling and also an opportunity to raise money for a worthwhile charity in Thunder Bay.”
Dr. Mark Henderson, the executive vice-president of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, was on hand to support the cyclists.
He said the ride has been instrumental in supporting the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation over the event’s first four years.
“This particular event over the past several years has raised more than $175,000 for the foundation and we hope to get another $30,000 this year,” Henderson said. “We’re extremely thankful to everybody who comes out.”
Collaborating with an event that promotes physical activity is an extra bonus, added Henderson, who formerly practiced as a cardiologist.
Funds for this year’s event are geared towards the foundation’s Exceptional Cancer Care Campaign, a cause that resonates deeply with many of the participants, the number of which grows every year as word of the ride spreads.
“A lot of people are here in memory of people they know who have had cancer or been touched by cancer in their lives so it’s a great way to raise awareness and money for cancer,” Sims said.
“We do have people who hear about the event and they say they want to try that as well.”
Henderson said the foundation hopes to meet the $5.9-million goal for the Exceptional Cancer Care campaign by the end of next March.
