Get on your bike and ride. Two Cochranites are currently raising funds for a pair of causes and are competing in two long-distance cycling marathons this summer.
As members of the Stantec Cycling Team, Gerri Fraser and Jeff Simpson will both ride their bicycles over 350 kilometres cumulatively, not including their weekly training schedules, for the Alberta Cancer Foundation and Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada in the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer (RTCC) and MS Bike marathons.
The Stantec Cycling Team is over 120 riders strong across the province, established on the basis of supporting riders’ participation in fundraising events.
“One person goes and gets involved with one of these events, and then they go and get a few other people and suddenly it organically grows,” said Simpson.
“Stantec is really community minded, so they’re very much in support when staff members have a cause or an initiative that they’re passionate about,” said Fraser.
While Simpson has never really stopped cycling since he was a child, Fraser admits that she is not an avid cyclist and her motivation for helping others through the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer is what got her back on the saddle.
Both Simpson and Fraser have family members that have been affected by cancer or MS, which fuelled their desire to help others however they could.
“As my dad persevered through a long and difficult recovery, his resilience was inspiring,” said Fraser. “Every time I encountered a hill that I thought I couldn’t push through, I channeled this inspiration.”
Simpson will be entering the MS Ride marathon for the sixth time this year, although he has actively participated in many other marathons over the past 10 years.
Going into her second year riding for the Alberta Cancer Foundation in the RTCC, Fraser has a different mindset than last year and is already halfway towards meeting her fundraising goals.
“Last year, I was afraid to ask people to donate, because I was afraid I wouldn’t complete the ride,” said Fraser. “But I realize this year it’s not about me, it’s about the cause.
“I’m giving people a catalyst to support the cause.”
Looking at the big picture, Simpson and Fraser are making it their personal goals to get more people involved this year, while arranging team fundraising events over the next couple months.
“I reached my goal last year, but for me the accomplishment was getting other people involved,” said Simpson.
“Going from 10 to 20 to 35 people, that’s where my drive is now,” said Simpson. “Getting other people involved and raising the awareness for the cause, as well as raising the money.”
Between silent auctions, barbecues and garage sales, the two hope to meet their own fundraising goals, while making sure their teammates also meet their goals.
Last year, the RTCC raised an approximate $7.9 million with 1,768 riders participating, which makes it the largest cycling fundraiser in Alberta.
Anyone interested in taking part in the RTCC can find all the details at conquercancer.ca, or visit mssociety.ca for information on any of the MS Society of Canada events. Anyone who wishes to help the cause can visit the websites and donate to a rider of their choosing.
“We’d just encourage anyone that wants to support the causes to consider challenging themselves to ride; it really is an achievable goal,” said Fraser. “The most amazing part is the people along the route cheering for you and saying thank you; that’s pretty awesome.”
