This August, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge for the ninth year in a row, and my goal is to pedal 520 kilometres throughout the month to fight kids' cancer!

Why am I doing this? Because right now, over 1,400 Canadian children are diagnosed with cancer each year. Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.

As most of you know, I lost my Dad to cancer in January 2016. He fought cancer 4 times in his life, he succeeded 3!!! Thanks to the research done in cancer, I was able to enjoy my Dad for 28 extra years!!!

And I even have more motivation as my wife Esperanza beat cancer 4 years ago, thanks to her courage and also the advances made through research to better understand how to treat this disease.

So I am raising funds to honor them (Misael Barreto - Michel- & Pancha) by helping these kids and supporting the SickKids Foundation to continue its work in developing treatments and finding a cure for childhood cancer.

The challenge will be tough, but nothing compared to what Michel & Pancha went through, and what these brave kids face every day as they fight for their lives and battle this terrible disease.

And so to show my support, I am taking on my own personal challenge to raise $500 to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.

But to achieve my goal, I need your help.

Please support my challenge and join me in the fight to save little lives by making a donation through my fundraising page.

Here's the link to my page: https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/JohnBarreto

All funds raised will support SickKids Foundation to provide care, develop treatments and find a cure for childhood cancers.

In my first 9 years I have ridden 10,756 Km during the month of the challenge and raised $8,226. Please help me to get to $9,000 and 11,300 Km this year.

Thank you for your support.

John