Well, today didn't go as planned. I hoped to add another 12 km to bring my total up to 189. Then one final ride (weather permitting) to finish off the month with 200 km--twice my original goal.
Instead, my "distance" bike wanted some time off and decided to have a flat tire. :(
Well, the elderly mountain bike hasn't seen much use this month, so it got called into service and carried me happily through another 6.5 km.
Now I don't know if I'll make that 200 total but at least I'll be close.
While I was riding I thought again of all the ups and downs that families go through when a child has cancer. Knowing that what I do can help is what motivates me to keep going.
After achieving my cycling goal last week I took some time off to catch up on errands. I still managed another 21 km though! Another few rides before the end of August and I should reach 200 km -- twice my original goal!
It's starting to feel like the end of summer. After weeks of trying to avoid the hot weather I was glad I'd worn a jacket this morning.
As I rode today I thought about GCC Ambassador Chloe. In 2025 the small pimple-like bump in her mouth was diagnosed as cancer. Over the last year this resilient girl has undergone chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. She is cheering on the GCC riders in our riding and fundraising challenges.
Yesterday I achieved my ride goal! I had a delightful 18 km ride along my favourite trail which was shaded and quiet in the late morning. I stopped at a small beach for a short break. Just a lovely morning, and i felt happy in the thought that I was fulfilling goals for an important cause.
And thanks to all my wonderful supporters my donation total is nearing $4000.
I'm really pleased with my progress towards my 152 km ride goal, and I'm absolutely thrilled that so many of my family, friends, and colleagues have donated to support the fight against kids' cancers.
My original fundraising goal was $1500. I increased that goal to $2500, and have now received almost $4000 in donations! Thanks to all who have donated!
I have found a bike route that I now use regularly. It's about 10 km and covers a range of things to see--two rivers, a marina, a beach, an old-growth forest, and a rail trail. Here's a picture of me at the entrance the old-growth forest. This is a cool and quiet place to be on a hot day.
The Great Cycle Challenge organizers have put a lot of work into resources to help participants meet ride goals and fundraising goals.
Today the GCC ride-tracking app took me on a tour waaay different from the trip I thought I was making. No, I did not ride 44 km, and I most definitely did not ride across the Ottawa River. It was a good day for riding and I did more than I usually do, so I've claimed 21 km as my total for the day.
Every once in a while life puts an obstacle in the way. Sometimes it's heat; sometimes it's rain. Today it was a literal obstacle: an old-growth tree taken down by Monday's storms. A kind passerby agreed to take my picture and offered to lift my bike over the tree. I decided to just take an alternate route.
This has been a great week!
Donations from friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues this week are over my $1500 fundraising goal. Inspired by this generosity, I've set a new goal of $2500.
Next Wednesday (August 12) is Kick Cancer's Butt day--all online donations made that day will be matched by a generous Toronto family. Please spread the word!!
My riding has been going well too. The weather has been hot and muggy but I found enough shady spaces and cooler hours to ride 69 km of my 100 km goal. So I'm now challenging myself with a new goal of 152 km. An unusual number, you say? Last year I missed my goal by 52 km so I've added them on to this year's goal.
Day 1 of this year's Great Cycle Challenge! Today's forecasted rain held off and I was glad for a 20 degree morning with little wind. A relaxing 10 km ride to get me 10% of the way to meeting my 100 km ride goal. Another visitor to the local beach took a picture for me. I enjoy stopping along the way to explain what I'm doing.
I don't usually ride in the evening so tonight's ride was a bit of an anomaly. I rode 7 km and only turned back home because the sun was going down behind the trees. Only one week to go before these km start counting towards my ride goal.
Thanks to all my wonderful sponsors, I am approaching my $1500 fundraising goal already. I guess I'll have to set a new one!
In spite of the heat and haze this week I was able to get in some short rides. I'm confident I'll be able to make my goal of riding 100 km during the month of August.
Instead of doing more riding, I looked into some of the research projects that Great Cycle Challenge is supporting.
One project is pioneering the use of liquid biopsy -- using a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid to identify changes in brain tumours, match children to targeted therapies, and track treatment response. This reduces the need for more invasive procedures, and may be able to detect recurrence earlier.