Even the stormy weather could not deter the participants from coming out for the 10th-annual “Big Bike” fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation here last Wednesday.
Six teams participated this year, including Abitibi-Consolidated, Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc., the CIBC, Wal-Mart, Couchiching First Nation, and Fort Frances High School.
Funds raised totalled $12,635.96, with Riverside bringing in the most money ($4,623).
Ann-Elizabeth Johnson has been voluntarily organizing the fundraiser for the last six years. “I thank the people who’ve been out to support the riders on the bike and everyone who has helped us raise money,” she remarked.
The bike, which has been piloted by Bert Copeland for the last five years, seats him and 29 other people, with one stationary seat at the back—the so-called “easy seat” reserved for the member of the team who raised the most money individually.
Luc Quesnel raised the most for the Abitibi team, bringing in $501 himself, but he opted to leave the seat for someone else.
“It was for a good cause, so I figured I’d pedal with everybody else, let somebody else take the seat,” he said. “It’s fun, but it’s harder than it seems. But I’d do it again, though, for sure.”
This was the first year Couchiching entered a team. And after their turn on the bike, they were in great spirits and excited about doing it again next year.
“It was fun, it was easy, it was great waving at the people. We had a blast,” said team member Christine Jourdain. “It’s a worthy cause and we were happy to do it.”
Bill Adamson, with the Abitibi team, was participating for the first time because it was a cause that hits close to home.
“I had a heart attack,” he said. “I think it’s a good cause and I didn’t have any trouble raising money.”
The Heart and Stroke Foundation also is a very worthy cause to first-time participant Bill Osterman, whose father died of a stroke. “I think it’s just an excellent resource,” he said. “They do a lot of good work.”
The six teams were able to raise substantially more money than last year—something volunteer Pat McPherson attributed largely to timing. Last year, the “Big Bike” made its rounds in June, which interfered with the “Relay for Life” cancer fundraiser, so organizers moved it up to May this year to increase participation.
“I think it was really nice that they all got out on the bike and rode. I was really impressed with the high school kids,” said McPherson. “I think we had a good turnout.”
About 47 percent of the money raised will go to research while the rest will help fund such things as prevention and disease management, as well as campaign and community development.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
