Canada Life Cycles team at the 2025 start line.

This morning my alarm went off at 4 am. Michel hopped on his bike to ride the 70 km to the start as part of his training.

The past two weeks have been hit and miss cycling wise due to storms and air quality. But this morning I’m feeling good.

I collected Tracy & Tyler at 5 am and we arrived at the Grand Bend Motorplex for 6 am.

I love seeing friends, old and new, at an event that continues to have a strong core of longtime supporters.

We will have a light headwind both days. It’s just how the weather worked out. Some years we get tailwinds both ways. Just the luck of the draw.

It’s delightfully cool and I’m thankful we are not in a heatwave.

The route this year is simplified. It is the same both days and uses roads local cyclists frequent.

Michel and I have had excellent results with our fundraising. I think having the top fundraiser, Barry Travnicek, join our team gave us a good reputation to live up to.

As of writing this I have raised $2,165. Michel is sitting at $685. We are hoping to best our total of $3,200.

Help us get there by Donating here

This event is much more than a cause related fundraiser. It’s a weekend riding with my beloved, our friends and colleagues.

Michel’s involvement pre-dates mine. He had been involved for a couple years before we rode together for the first time in 2018.

It’s become a touchstone in our relationship and our cycling season. We know several couples who met at the event/ride together.

Riding for this cause, the treatment and cure for MS, has brought me closer to friends. It has connected me with a community of caring and action. It’s something I treasure a great deal.

I don’t take for granted that I can ride 80 km two days back to back. It is a challenge but an achievable one.

I hope you too can find meaningful ways to connect activity and community. It’s powerful stuff.