Gore Bay resident Kathryn Ritzie and 10-year-old Jace Middaugh are participating in August's Great Cycle Challenge to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer research through the SickKids Foundation.
MANITOULIN—August is the month of the Great Cycle Challenge. People of all ages and abilities from every part of Canada set a personal riding goal and challenge themselves to pedal through the 31 days to fight kids’ cancer.
“This particular thing is very close to my heart,” said Kathryn Ritzie, of Gore Bay. “When I was three, I was in Sick Kids and I remember to this day watching my mother walk away. Not that she wanted to, but they were only allowed certain visiting hours. So that’s part of why I really like this one. And the other part is I’ve had cancer, and it’s awful, and I hate to think that children have it. I hate to think that anyone has it, but when children have it, it’s got to be so doubly awful. So that’s why I do this, because I’m not a cyclist at heart,” she said, and yet, this is her second year of cycling for this cause.
The Great Cycle Challenge began in 2016 and, in 10 years, this community of riders from all 13 provinces and territories have ridden a total of 31,308,832 kilometres and together have raised $61,092,246 in support of research to develop treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer. Statistics show that over 1,700 Canadian children are diagnosed with cancer every year and this national SickKids Foundation initiative is one major way to fight it and save young lives.
“The traffic on our road and on the 10th Concession is not bad, but I am literally a wobbly rider,” said Ms. Ritzie. “I’m not a strong biker at all, so yeah, I worry” Still, the 77-year old is willing to log 200 kilometres and raise $500 for this cause so near and dear to her heart. Speaking to Ms. Ritzie for any length of time will reveal there are many causes she holds dear, so it is no surprise that she would choose to cycle (even in her wobbly fashion) to make a positive change in a child’s life.
Ten-year-old Jace Middaugh is no stranger to the Great Cycle Challenge, in fact, this is his fifth year – do the math, he’s been riding for kids’ cancer practically since Kindergarten. “So, the first few years he raised money and played around with it and rode his bike, but not like a certain amount of kilometres,” said his mother, Rhonda Middaugh. “Last year he rode 200 kilometres. This year he’s going to try and ride 100 kilometres just because we have a busy August coming. He just kind of bikes around and bikes with friends and stuff, but he likes helping people,” she said. In total, over five years, Jace has ridden 244 kilometres and raised $2,426 in the Great Cycle Challenge.
Anyone can take part in the Great Cycle Challenge, anyone can set a goal, a personal goal – the number of kilometres is inconsequential, the amount of money raised, no matter the amount, will have an impact. If you’d like to donate to these intrepid cyclists: greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/KathrynRitzie and/or https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/JaceMiddaugh.