I stayed up until midnight to get this first ride logged! Being over here in Portugal gave me a bit of a time-zone advantage, and I figured since I might not ride the most kilometers or raise the most money overall this month, why not go for the very first ride logged in the challenge? 🚲💨
Day 1 is officially complete, though it came with a few tactical adjustments. With local August festivals set up around town, my route requires plenty of detouring to avoid the crowds, event venues, and heavy traffic.
Navigating around festival traffic is easy compared to what the real heroes are facing. This year, every single kilometer I pedal is dedicated to two incredibly brave kids:
Mateo Alfaro — Mateo lost an eye to cancer, yet he continues to keep a remarkably positive attitude while actively raising funds and awareness for cancer research.
Ellie Blezard — A brave child from back home in the Waterloo region who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Kids shouldn't have to deal with battle after battle like this. They deserve to just be kids. That is why I'm taking on 500 km this August to help fund life-saving research through the Great Canadian Cycle Challenge.
Day 1 Check-In:
Distance Logged Today: 10kms ridden
Total Distance Remaining: 490kms to go
Fundraising Goal: $82 raised of $500
Thank you to everyone who has already backed the campaign, shared my page, or sent words of encouragement. If you'd like to support the cause and back my ride for Mateo, Ellie, and every child fighting cancer, any contribution makes a difference!