Mark Hiemstra
- National: 83rd
- Province: 53rd in ON
- My Team: 2nd
I'm Riding For
Christine Hiemstra
Christine, my mom, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2015. Sadly she lost her battle on June 17, 2024. This year I will be not only cycling for all the kids and their parents, but also for Mom.
My Story
This August, I’m participating in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer.
Why? There are three key reasons:
- Over 1,400 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in Canada, and it remains the leading cause of disease-related death among children.
- While we lost our baby girl Evelyn to a different cause, I can deeply understand the fears and heartache of losing a child.
- My mother was diagnosed with melanoma and tragically lost her battle on June 17, 2024.
This year, I will be riding in honor of all the kids, their families, Evelyn and my mom.
Kids should be living their lives, not fighting for them.
This will be my fifth year taking part in this incredible challenge. This year, I’ll be riding along the Guelph-to-Goodrich (G2G) Rail Trail, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. I invite you to join me! Every Saturday in August, and the last week of the August, I will be riding the 132 km G2G trail. On my final day, I’ll complete the challenge with an epic 260 km ride—end to end... and end to end, along the entire trail.
I’m raising funds to support SickKids Foundation in their efforts to develop treatments and ultimately find a cure for childhood cancer.
Please consider supporting my ride by making a donation to help give these children the brighter future they deserve. As a thank you:
Anyone who joins me for a ride will receive a customized, handmade wooden medallion. And all those who donates $200 or more will receive a special thank-you gift from On The Mark Laser Engraving (www.onthemarklaser.ca). More details to come.
Additionally, to show my gratitude for donations of $100 or more, we’ll be hosting an All-You-Can-Eat Rib & Chicken BBQ on Saturday, September 6. We’ll also be handing out awards to those who donate $200 or more.
Thank you for your support. Your generosity will make a difference in the lives of these children.
Mark
My Legacy
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605 km Ridden$1,081 Raised2021
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728 km Ridden$1,540 Raised2022
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1,195 km Ridden$4,000 Raised2023
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1,536 km Ridden$6,548 Raised2024
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438 km Ridden$2,580 Raised2025
My Challenge
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day - Give Away
9 Aug 2025Everyone who donates to my page this Wednesday, August 13 will be entered into a draw for a handcrafted walnut charcuterie board from On The Mark Laser Engraving. Once we have a winner, we’ll engrave your name of choice on the board and finish it with a food-safe cutting board oil. (Prize value: $100)
Thank you for your incredible support — together, we can make a huge impact!
Mark
Posted 1 day ago -
103.2 km ride - 100 km Donut 🍩 Run - Saturday, August 9, 2025
From Waterloo ON to Waterloo ON
Logged this ride 2 days ago -
Kick Cancer's Butt Day - Wednesday August 13
9 Aug 2025Wednesday (Aug 13) is KICK CANCER’S BUTT DAY! 📣
Your DONATIONS WILL MATCHED up to $1,300,000 on this incredible day! 🥳
That's right, all online donations you make on Wednesday WILL BE MATCHED and added to my fundraising page. ✅
So, you can DOUBLE your impact for our brave kids, and bring us closer to ending childhood cancer. 💙
Let's get ready to KICK CANCER'S BUTT!
Posted 2 days ago -
$2,500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved SUPERHERO LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 3 days ago -
31.7 km ride - Home Loop - Thursday, August 7, 2025
Logged this ride 4 days ago - View on Strava -
103.2 km ride - Blyth to Home - Monday, August 4, 2025
From Blyth ON to Waterloo
Logged this ride 7 days ago -
Christine Hiemstra - My Champion
4 Aug 2025The summer of 2023, I made a cycling trip from Waterloo to Point Pelee. It was an amazing trip. The first night I camped at Port Burwell Provincial Park, the second night at Rondeau Provincial Park, and the third night at Wheatley Provincial Park. I had planned to stay at Wheatley for three nights to rest and explore Pelee Island, which was magical.
Along my journey mom and dad where there supporting all the way. Every day they set up and tore down camp, cooked meals, and verbally encouraged, saying things like “Wow, you’re amazing.” “I can’t believe you cycled all that in one day.” “I can’t believe you almost beat us to the next campsite.”
Mom love to talk to everyone she met, telling them about her amazing son who was doing all this cycling to raise money to fight kids cancer. And would they like to donate to such a worthy cause? Many people would hand her a twenty. She was my champion.
Unfortunately my mom lost her battle with melanoma last year on June 17, 2024.
We love you and miss you.
Posted 7 days ago -
Group Ride G2G Guelph to Goderich
4 Aug 2025What an amazing day. The beginning of the trip did not start off as planned, with a couple of setbacks. But we came up with plan B, and was back on track.
It was great connecting with old friends and meeting new ones. And sharing the adventures that played out before us. The day was filled with almost being eaten by a lion, breakfast at Tim Hortons, lunch at Cowbell Brewing Co, river crossing, fixing flat tires, and a swim in the lake at Goderich beach.
Thank you Maad Alhammadi, @Christopher and @Sean.
However the adventure did not end there for me. I biked back to Blyth, an additional 30 km, to an Airbnb where I met my spouse and went out to dinner at Cowbell Brewing Co. I ended the day 161 km, a belly full of good food, and a soft bed to sleep in.
Tomorrow I finish off my trip with another 100 km, back home. — eating lunch at Cowbell Brewing Co.
Posted 7 days ago -
162.4 km ride - G2G Waterloo to Goderich - Sunday, August 3, 2025
Logged this ride 8 days ago - View on Strava -
Evelyn Hope
2 Aug 2025On May the 03, 2019 at 9:13 pm, It was with breaking hearts we released our baby girl, Evelyn Hope, straight into the arms of Jesus. Four days before her due date, we had lost not only our baby girl, but all the hopes and dreams that we longed for, and so desperately wanted. Upon discovering this heart shattering news, we focused on a positive birth experience, and welcoming Evelyn into our family. The hospital staff and midwife team were so amazing. We had that evening, and all the next day with Evelyn, surrounded by family & friends. We all took turns holding her, singing to her, and praying for her.
There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of, and miss her. Every time I see a little girl about her age, my heart aches. Wondering what she would be like today, and all the things I have missed. Her first steps, first words, her giggle and laugh, first day at school...
Evelyn is one of the reasons I have become so passionate about the Great Cycling Challenge. I know the pain of losing a child.
Evelyn I miss &I love you, and will be thinking of you as I'm riding.
Posted 9 days ago -
37.4 km ride - First Ride - Evening Ride - Friday, August 1, 2025
Logged this ride 9 days ago - View on Strava -
Blogs Coming
26 Jul 2025Hi everyone. I will start Sharing blogs on on Aug 01. The beginning of the Challenge, which is only a few days away.
Posted 16 days ago -
$2,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $2,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved LEGEND LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 21 days ago -
$1,000 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $1,000 to fight kids' cancer and achieved WARRIOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 25 days ago -
$500 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $500 to fight kids' cancer and achieved GUARDIAN LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 68 days ago -
$250 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $250 to fight kids' cancer and achieved PROTECTOR LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 68 days ago -
$100 raised to fight kids' cancer!
I just raised $100 to fight kids' cancer and achieved DEFENDER LEVEL in the challenge! Thank you so much for your support.
Posted 68 days ago
My Sponsors
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Lockdoor Canada
“Glad to sponsor Mark on this very important cause. Go Mark go.”
$750Received this donation 68 days ago
Mark
“Thank you Steve & Lockdoor for the amazing support. Together we are changing little lives.”
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Randy & Eileen Henderson
“Happy to participate with you in this great cause Mark!”
$350Received this donation 22 days ago
Mark
“Amazing!!! Thanks Randy & Eileen so much for the donation. We are kicking cancer in the BUTT”
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Thomas Luckhart
$258.75Received this donation 21 days ago
Mark
“Thank you Tom for your generous donation.”
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Anonymous
$217.35Received this donation 22 days ago
Mark
“WOW!!! Thank you so much for the generous donation. Together we are changing lives.”
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Donald Paul Tuck
“Always glad to support you, Mark, in this great cause!”
$207Received this donation 25 days ago
Mark
“Paul & Pam. Thank you so much for helping me fight Cancer.”
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8+ Inc.
$150Received this donation 18 days ago
Mark
“Thank you 8+ for your amazing support.”
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Julie Whittal
$124.20Received this donation 24 days ago
Mark
“Thank you Julie for your generous donation.”
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Sean Teschke
“Mark and I rode from Goderich to Guelph to support Cancer research”
$124.20Received this donation 6 days ago
Mark
“Sean thanks for your support, and thanks joining the G2G group ride.”
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Juanita Ogilvie
“"Perseverance is not a long race; it's many short races one after the other." --Walter Elliot Blessings Mark, as you once again ride in memory of Evelyn Hope, your Mom and the families who continue to battle cancer. Brian and Juanita”
$103.50Received this donation 21 days ago
Mark
“Juanita & Brian. Thanks so much for helping me to Kick Cancer in the BUTT.”
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Jill Magazine
“Let’s Go Mark!”
$72.45Received this donation 188 days ago
Mark
“Jill Thank you so much for helping KICK cancer in the butt. Together we are making a difference in the lives of families.”
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Tim Riley
“Keep making a difference Brother ❤️👊 !!”
$72.45Received this donation 1 day ago -
Tim Hoshoian
$51.75Received this donation 11 days ago
Mark
“Thanks Tim for your Donation. Together we are making a difference in kids lives.”
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Michelle Buchanan
“Thanks Mark!!! Ride safe!”
$41.40Received this donation 50 days ago
Mark
“Thank you Michelle. Ride safe too. Your medal will be on its way soon.”
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James Humphrey
“Keep pedalling!”
$36.23Received this donation 3 days ago
Mark
“Thanks Jim for your on going support.”
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Mark Hiemstra
$20.70Received this donation 3 days ago