Mary McNeill

- National: 336th
- Province: 182nd in ON
I'm Riding For
Beckett
Beckett is my friend's grandson. Early this year he was diagnosed with leukemia and is receiving treatment at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. I think of his treatment journey as I journey through my 100 km ride challenge.
My Story
Some of my friends have asked me if I’ll be participating in the Great Cycle Challenge again this August! Yes I am! This is year number seven!
Great Cycle Challenge is a month-long cycling challenge that raises funds to fight kids’ cancers. Funds raised go to the SickKids Foundation. The goal is to fund life-saving research to develop safer and more effective treatments, and find cures for all childhood cancers.
Why? Because cancer is the largest killer of kids in Canada; 27 children are diagnosed every week.
I’m thrilled and grateful for the support from friends, family, and colleagues over the past six years. Your generous donations have raised over $11,500.
I’ve challenged myself to ride 100 km during the month of August, and to raise $2000 in donations. As I ride I think of the kids who are fighting cancer, especially my friend’s grandson, three-year-old Beckett. Their challenges are so much tougher than mine! I’m glad to support this cause—because kids should be enjoying life, not fighting for it!
I would feel honoured to have your support. Check out my Great Cycle Challenge webpage https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/MaryMcNeill where you can follow my progress during August.
To my local supporters: please wave if you see me; it means a lot!
My Legacy
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211 km Ridden$816 Raised2019
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312 km Ridden$1,900 Raised2020
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252 km Ridden$1,416 Raised2021
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251 km Ridden$1,955 Raised2022
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302 km Ridden$2,809 Raised2023
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151 km Ridden$2,627 Raised2024
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48 km Ridden$3,279 Raised2025
My Challenge
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August 17 update
18 Aug 2025I write this mid-August update with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am thrilled that my family, friends, and colleagues are so supportive of my fundraising to fight kids’ cancer. My donation goal was $2000; I have now received over $3000! On the other hand, my ride goal of 100 km is stalled at 48 km.
The sciatica I’ve been dealing with for months has been acting up. At the beginning of August I was doing well and now I can barely walk. But I’m taking things a day at a time and hope to get in a few more kilometers before the end of August. If nothing else, this experience has given me an idea of what the ups and downs of cancer treatment can feel like to a family.
I’d like to give a shout out to another Great Cycle Challenge rider, and work colleague: Shay Pitcher! This is Shay’s second year as a participant. You can follow the stories of what she notices on her rides at https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/riders/ShayPitcher
Posted 12 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 16 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 18 days ago -
August 10 update
10 Aug 2025If you’ve been thinking about making a donation and are waiting for the right time……wait until next Wednesday August 13! That’s “Match Day”, when online donations are matched.
I won’t be riding for the next few days. The weather is just too hot and humid for this old body to deal with. :( So I’ll be resting up, getting ready to take on the remaining 52 km of my challenge later in the week.
Posted 19 days ago -
August 6 update
7 Aug 2025August 6, 2025
Since I’m not doing longer rides this year it’s easy to get out for 10 km or so after dinner. The air is cooler. Today it carried the scent of newly ripened corn.
My sciatica is acting up and it would be easy to say “oh, I’ll just ride another time”. And then I realize that I can put up with a bit of pain in hopes that children like Beckett won’t have to experience the pain of dealing with cancer.
Today’s critter count:
1 small yellow bird, possibly a finch
A group of turkey vultures enjoying a takeout meal. Today I learned that a group of feeding turkey vultures is called a wake.
Posted 23 days ago -
10.8 km ride - into provincial park and back - Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Logged this ride 24 days ago -
August 5 update
6 Aug 2025I added another 10 km today, for a current total of 37 km, with a trip down “Memory Lane” in Constance Bay where I lived for about 10 years. There are usually some great views of the Ottawa River and the Gatineau Hills on the Quebec side but haze from wildfires across Canada kept the visibility poor. I’m glad for the electric motor I had installed on my bike a couple of years ago so I don’t have to breathe so hard going uphill.
My amazing sponsors and supporters, some of whom have followed me since I started this challenge in 2019, help keep me motivated. Your donations, likes, and waves are always appreciated!
Today’s critter count:
2 black squirrels (I’m surprised I didn’t see more; Constance Bay is full of the acorns they love)
1 male deer, his little antlers covered in velvet
Posted 24 days ago -
9.9 km ride - Aug 5 Constance Bay ride - Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Logged this ride 24 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 26 days ago -
10.2 km ride - Around big block - Saturday, August 2, 2025
Logged this ride 28 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 28 days ago -
Day 1: 17 km
2 Aug 2025Day one of my cycle challenge to help fight kids' cancer! With 2 rides today, I'm 17 km on my way towards my 100 km ride goal. Nicer weather made for a couple of pleasant rides.
I'm keeping track of the wildlife I see when I'm riding. Today's critter count:
1 chipmunk
1 raccoon family: Mom and 4 littles
Posted 28 days ago -
10.0 km ride - August 1. outside Kinburn - Friday, August 1, 2025
Logged this ride 28 days ago -
7.0 km ride - to provincial park and back - Friday, August 1, 2025
Logged this ride 29 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 43 days ago -
July 15 update
15 Jul 2025It's been awfully hot and muggy here for days. I've had 2 short rides (morning and evening). I sure hope things cool down before August.
How do I decide on a distance to challenge myself with? Well, the first year I thought "if I ride 10 km a day for 20 days in the month, that's 200 km, so I'll make that my goal." And that seemed to work.
This year I've had some physical setbacks and am still working on stamina so shorter rides it is.
Posted 45 days ago -
Getting started
8 Jul 2025July 8. First ride of the season. I've had some physical challenges this year and it felt good to back on my bike. I keep in mind the challenges faced by kids who have cancer, and their families.
Posted 52 days ago
My Sponsors
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Kick Cancer's Butt Day matched donation
$769.85Received this donation 15 days agoMary
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Richard McNeill
$517.50Received this donation 16 days agoMary
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Janeen Harman
$274.28Received this donation 28 days agoMary
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Shay Pitcher
$207Received this donation 26 days agoMary
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Charlotte Leitch
$124.20Received this donation 15 days agoMary
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Patsy Weir
$124.20Received this donation 43 days agoMary
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Valerie Jorgensen
$103.50Received this donation 21 days agoMary
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Anonymous
$100Received this donation 1 hour agoMary
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Karen Dorsch
$100Received this donation 16 days agoMary
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Sarah Mader
$77.63Received this donation 26 days agoMary
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Beth Boudreau
$72.45Received this donation 16 days agoMary
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Janice Bradley-Guillemot
$72.45Received this donation 16 days agoMary
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Julia
$72.45Received this donation 22 days agoMary
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Deborah Hackett
$51.75Received this donation 34 days agoMary
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Kirsten Smith
$51.75Received this donation 16 days agoMary
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Laima Cole
$51.75Received this donation 18 days agoMary
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Lori Fielding
$51.75Received this donation 16 days agoMary
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Patricia Dalphy
$51.75Received this donation 16 days agoMary
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Rev R Susan Smandych
$51.75Received this donation 16 days agoMary
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Vivian Patterson
$51.75Received this donation 16 days agoMary