GCC 2026 -Day 25

I am nearing the end of my time with GCC, and people have been asking what I am going to do with my time!

Well, first I have to finish cycling to honour my commitment to ride 300 kilometres during the month of August. After that, I have another little project I would love to get started. ❤️

Over the last 10 years, I have been incredibly blessed by the support of so many people. I dare not start mentioning names because I know I would miss someone, but if you donated, provided prizes, encouraged me, shared my Facebook posts, rode with me, or supported me in any way, please know how grateful I am.

Over those 10 years, I have also been honoured by Great Cycle Challenge Canada to be called a Champion, and year after year they have generously supplied me with GCC jerseys and T-shirts.

Now, as my GCC journey begins to wind down, I have been wondering:

What am I going to do with all these jerseys and T-shirts?

They could sit on a shelf or in a drawer for the next 20 years.

But I have a much better idea. 🧸❤️

I would love to turn them into comfort bears for children on a cancer journey.

These jerseys represent 10 years of my passion for helping kids fighting cancer. Instead of packing that passion away, I would love to pass it along.

My passion can become YOUR passion to help kids fighting cancer!

And that is how the Great Henrietta Bear Brigade was born! 🧸

I have 19 GCC jerseys and 7 T-shirts ready to become bears. Now I need some help.

I am looking for people who can sew and make memory bears, and I am also looking for people who would be willing to sponsor a bear to help cover the costs of making the bears and getting them to children at SickKids Hospital in Toronto.

Together, we can turn 10 years of memories into hugs, comfort and smiles for little warriors who fight so hard every single day.

And with September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I can’t think of a better time to get this brigade started. 🎗️

If you can MAKE A BEAR or would like to SPONSOR A BEAR, please reach out to me so we can talk about how to make this happen.

LET’S DO THIS! 🧸❤️

Join the Great Henrietta Bear Brigade!

One jersey. One bear. One hug.

Together, we can make a difference

GCC 2026 - Day 22 Group Ride

Wow, it’s been ten days since I updated this page! I’ve been trying to get a ride in every day but then did not find the time to update the page. Yesterday was special though! After much planning, making sure all the moving parts were in order….dot the “I”s and cross the “t”s so to speak! Everything looked like it was perfect. Unfortunately, the only thing I had no control over was the weather. After watching the weather network all week, it looked like it would be a good day to ride! Then as the day grew closer, Mother Nature thought to throw a wrench into all the planning…forecast for rain for a good part of the morning! What to do - should we cancel, should we ride? A good downpour in the morning dampened my spirits for sure, but let’s soldier on. It’s what the kids on a cancer journey have to do!!! Thoughts about postponing were not really an option….too many moving parts in this special day to be able to do later, so off to Tillsonburg I headed! What happened was truly amazing, the roads dried up, the sun came out, and together with 16 other riders from various parts of the province, set off on our ride! After the initial meeting and getting acquainted with new riders to the group, and some drone video by Craig, we were piped from the parking lot of the Alliance Church parking lot to the road by Stephen, we cycled 14.5 km. We were kept safe with the help of John, from Cops and Rodders Oxford Branch, who provided a sweep car to follow the group. Unfortunately, the unpredictable weather meant we had to resort to Plan B, and use his own car instead of the cool hotrod we were planning to make use of. At one point we lost part of the group and sent back a "search and rescue” team to catch them up to where we were waiting for them. We continued on to Makkink’s Flower Farm and Bakery for more pictures and a wonderful time of getting acquainted, sharing stories and experiences of being part of Great Cycle Challenge! It was such a special time, made even more special by having our injured friend, the unicyclist, Zach Wells in attendance!! These are some of the experiences and friends that I am going to miss since this is my last year with Great Cycle Challenge, but these memories will stay with me forever! I’m sure I will stay in contact with many of you, and follow your progress as you continue to ride and fundraise for the kids fighting cancer!

GCC 2026 - Day 12

Well, after staying up until 12 midnight (well I actually fell asleep for a bit), I spent the next couple of hours entering the donations into the Great Cycle Challenge page. Everything balanced perfectly, so off to bed I go.....only to toss and turn and not be able to sleep. Short night here, so no biking for me today. It's been raining anyhow, so going to take a rest day today. I am almost half way finished my riding goal, but I have achieved my fundraising goal. That doesn't mean more donations are not welcome, as the need to help kids fighting cancer continues to exist. If you have not made your donation yet, or want to make a donation that has a real impact, TODAY, AUGUST 12, 2026, MATCH DAY - that's the day to make a donation. And just look how you all helped me blow the mercury right out of that thermometer!!!!!!

AMAZING SUPPORT FROM SO MANY PEOPLE! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

GCC 2026 - Day 11

Today was a day of updating files and sending out reminders for Match Day tomorrow. Laundry seems to always show up from somewhere! I got another 10 km ride in after dinner! The temperature after dinner is much better for cycling but it also is noticeable that the days are getting shorter!

GCC 2026 - Day 10

It's been a busy day today, Rain in the morning meant I had time to deal with some over ripe peaches. Was not able to make jam this year, but did manage to bottle four jars of peaches. Spent some time this afternoon working on my book, and then after dinner managed another ride since the day was not as rainy as had been predicted. Have to get those kilometers done before the end of August, so slow and steady should get it done.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT MATCH DAY ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

GCC 2026 - Day 9

A beautiful day for a ride. Worked on my book for a bit and then headed out for a 20 kilometer ride. My riding total percentage has now surpassed my fundraising percentage goal. That needs to change because you all know that for me it is more about fundraising than cycling, although I don't mind being out there once I get on the bike. I met up with the hot rod owner who is going to be our "sweep car" on the group ride and chatted with him for a while before heading home.

GCC 2026 - Day 7

Well today was another busy day, with lots going on.....MATCH DAY was announced, so to make your donation have a greater impact, Wednesday, August 12, 2026 is the day take action! If it's Match Day, I am confident that another flyer or post card telling this would be in order, so created one of those to have a few on hand....and then by end of the day they were gone and three more donations for Match Day pre payments. Then off to see a few people before heading home for lunch....well maybe lupper. I spent a little more time fine tuning my book, and I am happy to say that I now have a PDF copy to take to the printer for a first printing. This is so exciting, and I can't wait to actually see it in print. After a bit of a break it was time to have dinner, but since it's Friday, ordering in is the option......imagine when I place my order the person on the phone says "Mulder"? Maybe we order from the same place too often...lol. Then I go to pick up the order and the kitchen staff calls out "MULDER IS IN THE HOUSE" and they all cheer. Don't forget, these are the people who support my fundraising in a huge way by purchasing onto spinner wheels, as well as donating to the prize package. I choose to return the favour by supporting their business. So the day is over, but I have not been out on my bike in a day, and that won't get me to 300 kilometers, so a quick ride to get another 14 kilometers. I am now finished 101 of my 300 kilometers and we are one week in to the riding month. Well, laptop is requiring more "juice" so it's time to wrap this day up and call it a day!

GCC 2026 - Day 5

Well, today totally went sideways. The plan was to get some more kilometers in because it sounds like tomorrow is going to be a rain day so no cycling for me in the rain. The day unfolded totally different, and so most of the day was spent in emerge waiting on tests and results and such. By time I got home, it was hot....too hot for me to go out and bike, so instead I got out to deliver the prize package for the Southwest Oxford Plus Tour package. What a lovely couple who won the package. The next three hours were spent visiting and reliving some events when one of our children was their paperboy some 46 years ago. We chatted about GCC and just had a lovely visit. By time I got home, it was cooler, so quickly grabbed the bicycle and did a quick ride and added another 11.7 kilometers. So far I have finished 87 of 300 kilometers and it's still week 1, so I am happy with the progress. I will see if there is a dry thirty minutes tomorrow that I can add a few more, but if not, I am ahead of the game already at this point.

GCC 2026 - Day 4 Ride 2

A quick ride after dinner just to get the extra kilometers. Currently finished 25% of my riding goal! Not at my fundraising goal yet but hoping to get there by time GCC 2026 is finished! If you haven’t made a donation yet, even a small donation helps! We have over 10,000 riders and if they all get a bunch of small donations, just think what kind of impact that can have!

GCC 2026 - Day 4

Started my day working on a special project but then decided it was time to hit the road….with the bike! 25.5 km later and a refreshing (72 degrees) swim was very much welcomed! Now to continue with the special project for a while yet and hit up the grocery store! I am almost finished 25% of my riding goal. I hope to get to that point by the end of the day yet! You all have done YOUR part and now it’s MY turn! Have a great day everyone!