Two Airdrie residents are getting fit this summer while raising funds to support cancer research at the same time.
Throughout August, Deb Eben and Jim Horsfield will be riding their bicycles around Airdrie, clocking their kilometres, soliciting donations and posting their progress online as part of the 2021 Great Cycle Challenge Canada. Held annually, the virtual cycling event raises money for the SickKids Foundation, which supports research to develop treatments and find a cure for childhood cancers.
“It’s been going on since 2016 when they founded it, and it’s turned into the biggest cycling event in the country,” Eben said.
According to the challenge’s website, participants have logged a combined distance of more than 12.5 million kilometres since the ride began in 2016, and have collectively raised over $21 million. Every year, participants set a distance challenge and fundraising target, which they attempt to surpass throughout the month.
While she’s new to exercise challenges, Eben said she was motivated to take part in the virtual event this summer.
“I’m a recently fit person,” she said. “I’m really not that fit yet, which is why we named our team the Airdrie Fit Chasers – because we’re still chasing fitness.”
Eben added her and Horsfield’s objective is to raise $1,000 and cycle 100 kilometres each. She said if they surpass that total, they would be able to set a new target partway through the month.
“A lot of the people riding are very long-distance riders,” she said. “I’m not competing with them – I’m just competing with myself, trying to get the kilometres done and raise the money for the kids, which is what it’s all about.”
Both participants have personal motivations for taking part in the ride. Horsfield said he is riding in memory of his father, who passed away from cancer in 1971. Eben said she is riding to honour her friend Lynn Campbell, who passed away from cancer in 2019, as well as Lynn’s sister Jodi Carver.
According to Eben, Lynn was a life-long friend of hers, whom she also worked alongside at the RCMP’s emergency dispatch centre in Peace River, Alta. Lynn’s younger sister Jodi passed away from cancer as well, at the age of 18.
“I just thought it was a great opportunity and challenge to honour Lynn and Jodi and raise money to support cancer research for kids,” Eben said.
In preparation for the challenge, Eben and Horsfield have been completing practice rides throughout some of Airdrie’s neighbourhoods in the evenings. They’ve been using a GPS app to track their distances and then posting their updates to Facebook.
“I definitely needed my fitness level upped and this is certainly upping it for me,” Horsfield said. “I duly lacked in that area and this has been an awesome way to engage yourself and motivate yourself. We post a little bit and then to have these funds randomly appear, [it shows] people are engaging with us and that has been fun.”
While Horsfield and Eben have their own personal goals in relation to the Great Cycle Challenge Canada, they said they would love to see other Airdrie residents join their team in the month-long cycling challenge.
“We have our own fundraising pages, but the system allows us to set up a team page,” Horsfield said. “We’re hoping for more Airdrie team members to join us on this. I’d love to see us do a massive ride on Aug. 1 with as many Airdrie people we could gather and muster.”
Horsfield added the pair is also interested in sponsoring or raising funds for a local child who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
“Their family might be struggling,” he said. “If we could pull together some sponsors to round up some gifts for this child, it would just be a way to kick off the month and raise some awareness of what’s happening.”
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
