Even if you’re not someone who’s been directly affected by cancer, it’s important to know about some of the powerful organizations and events that are making a real contribution to finding a cure for the disease.
The
American Cancer Society, the
Lungevity Foundation, the
Cancer Survivor’s Fund, these are just a few of the organizations dedicated to fighting cancer. And there are plenty more out there, small and large, that are making a significant impact and bringing people together to support the cause.
Take, for example, the
Ride to Conquer Cancer, a Canadian organization that has been raising funds to support cancer research for over six years. The motto for Ride to Conquer Cancer is “Together we make a difference”, and when it comes to the spirit of the organization and the riding events it organizes, the motto rings completely true.
If you live in Canada, you may already know what the Ride to Conquer Cancer organization does.
Since 2008, the Ride to Conquer Cancer organization has been hosting bike-riding events in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, all in the name of fighting cancer. And the amount of success and participation that Ride to Conquer Cancer has enjoyed has been tremendous, to say the least.
In fact, the Ride to Conquer Cancer bike rides have surpassed all other bicycling events in Canada. Even more impressive, since 2008, Ride to Conquer Cancer has raised more than $99.3 million for the cancer cause,
in Toronto alone.
Where do all the funds raised by the rides go?
All funds raised go toward cancer research, education and treatment advances done at
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, a centre in Toronto that’s one of the top cancer research centres in the world. Ride to Conquer Cancer provides a more
complete breakdown of how the funds are used on their website.
There’s a reason why Ride to Conquer Cancer has been so successful. Having people come together towards helping cancer research is of course the best reason of all.
Also, what’s more fun than bike riding along the picturesque roads from Vancouver to Seattle or from Toronto to Niagara Falls? Ride to Conquer Cancer has succeeded in bringing fun and challenge to its charitable cause.
The fact that each one of its four events have separate courses that riders can choose from, each with some sort of varying difficulty, makes it all the more inviting for participants.
Take, for example, Ride to Conquer Cancer’s Ontario event, which this year is held from
June 13-14, 2015. Participants of the event can choose from a number of courses. For instance, riders can choose to bicycle “The Classic”, a 200+ kilometer course that runs from Toronto to Niagara Falls. Riders looking for even more of a challenge can decide to ride the “The Classic Plus” route, a 220+ km bicycle course that goes from Toronto to Niagara Falls with an added leg.
If you live in Vancouver, you have a number of courses to select from as well. You can do Vancouver’s version of “The Classic” course, which runs from Vancouver to Seattle or, as another example, you can ride “The Challenge” course, which is a longer, +275 km course that also leads to Seattle.
“Participating in Ride to Conquer Cancer and being able to ride with friends and your teammates really is an amazing experience.” This is a comment from Mike Pineault, an Ontarian who has participated in the ride for the past five years.
Mike Pineault knows very personally the
kind of loss that can come from cancer, having lost his grandmother to the disease, a close friend, as well as his grandfather most recently last February. Ever since
participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer rides, Pineault has given 110% to raising funds to support cancer research.
The first year Mike Pineault
biked in the ride, he and his friends raised $63,000, no small amount for sure. Since then, Mike Pineault and his group of riders have raised a total of $500,000 dollars through participation in the Ride to Conquer Cancer and through their
fundraising efforts!
But, how do you train for a ride that’s over 200 kilometers long?
It’s a good question, as many people are not used to riding such an extended courses, especially over the period of several consecutive days. The organizers at Ride to Conquer Cancer understand this, and it’s one of the reasons why the organization hosts
volunteer-led training rides before each event. That way, participants of all athletic ability can get in shape before the actual ride and meet more friends and participants in the process.
Besides helping with training, Ride to Conquer Cancer also helps its participants fundraise prior to the ride. The organization provides a number of fundraising tips to its riders, tips like creating a list of potential donors (family, friends, colleagues, etc.), emailing as many people as possible and working to expand their circle of potential donors.
A now seasoned fundraiser, Mike Pineault adds, “Sometimes fundraising can be difficult, and you will reach walls. But, Ride to Conquer Cancer supporters should keep in mind that they are fundraising for a very good cause. Supporters should also keep in mind the fun aspect of fundraising and that they shouldn’t take it personally if they hear a no.”
In the end, the rides that Ride to Conquer Cancer organizes do two important things: they bring together communities in a way that is positive and constructive; and they provide significant support and funds for the continued effort to fight cancer.
“There are so many people I have met through the Ride that are dedicated to fighting cancer, and that’s one of the things that makes [the event] so special,” says Mike Pineault. “Events like these and the people who participate are really making a difference in the fight against cancer, and that means everything.”
For more information on how you can participate in one of Ride to Conquer Cancer’s rides or how you can make a contribution, feel free to visit the organization’s website at
www.conquercancer.ca.