The annual Ride of the Mustangs Bike-a-thon raised an astonishing $132,852.
The money was raised by 65 teams who biked for 48 hours in the George McDougall gymnasium for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Oncology Unit, April 24 to 26.
Thunderous applause and cheering erupted at George McDougall when the total was announced, as organizers had hoped to hit the $100,000 mark in the event’s third year.
“This is incredible,” said George McDougall senior and organizer Ilya Ushakov. “It’s really breathtaking. It’s amazing how a community of just students can raise so much. You hear of adults raising that much, but this is just a high school.”
Ushakov has been involved in the event since its inception in 2011, and said he hopes he can come back and be a part of it in the years to come.
“I am going to miss it so much, but I know the students will do a great job for years to come,” he said.
Saifa Koonar, president and CEO of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, said the funds will help the hospital fight cancer in children, and assist in the way families deal with the disease.
“It is a phenomenal effort from the school and these kids,” said Koonar.
“We have all been touched by it, and we can’t fight this battle alone. I feel so proud of what these kids have done.”
Koonar added that other schools and communities should look to George McDougall as an example for fundraising.
“Join our family, come together, it’s great to see kids raising money for kids,” said Koonar.
“The future is all about our kids. There are so many kids that will be affected by cancer in the future and we want to be victorious.”
Country music star and former Airdrie resident Paul Brandt was on hand to kick off the event and said he was excited to visit his former school and see the efforts of the student body.
“It was fun for me to be back in the gym because I used to attend here,” said Brandt.
“It was hugely inspiring for me. There are a lot of worthy causes you can raise money for. The thing that is most inspiring for me is seeing these kids look outside their own circumstances and think about somebody else. That’s what drew me to an event like this.”
Students raised money from pledges and biked on teams of eight to 12 for 48 hours.
