September 27, 2024

Well, the numbers are in and it's a wrap for GCC 2024. I'm pleased to say I reached my end goal of $140,000.00 for the 8 year legacy, thanks to a couple of generous donors who came through at the eleventh hour! You know who you are and you are appreciated! This has been an amazing year for me once again! I am grateful for all of your support, whether your donation was large or small, it really doesn't matter, because all of those donations got me to where I ended up, but more importantly, they are helping the kids fighting cancer, obtain better treatment options, resulting in better outcomes for their lives.

With all that being said, today is a somewhat bittersweet day, as it is six years ago today, that we learned the devastating news that our lives were about to change in unimaginable ways in the very near future. While we always knew this day would be coming, we had hoped and prayed for it to not be so soon, but that was not to be. And so, as another year of GCC closes out, my plan is to be back for GCC 2025 and once again ride in Arlene's memory. With that being said, we can make our plans and hope they come to fruition, but our God makes the ultimate plans that will always supersede any plans we might make!

Once again, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to all the wonderful people who have supported me in this journey, with donations, words of encouragement, and your love to help kids fighting cancer!

Hope to see you all for GCC2025!

September 20, 2024 morning ride

Another day - another ride!

Random thoughts while cycling:

➡️ it’s a beautiful day to be on the bike

➡️ why we ride and fundraise

➡️ a reminder of some of the kids who are not able to ride because they have left much to soon

➡️ a reminder of the ones still here who we are trying to help

➡️ my own daughter Arlene, in whose memory I always cycle

➡️ what can I come up with for next year’s ride, to keep this journey interesting and keep people engaged (I have a few ideas so be watching GCC 2025)

For now, everyone stay safe, be kind, and enjoy the last few days of summer weather!

Oh, and one week from today rides and donations for GCC 2024 wrap up!

September 19, 2024 morning ride

Well, with this beautiful weather still holding on, there was no reason not to get out for another ride. A boring ride to the highway and back, but then tacked on a few extra kilometers, and boy, that was worth it......what a beautiful vehicle I encountered on my travels. Guy was asked whether he loved his new vehicle that he had brought in to town to show a friend. His response was "I like my car, I love my wife.....she bought this for me!" Then, after chatting with the owner and his friends, I headed home and encountered another cool car along the side of the road, but not nearly as cool as the first one.....lol

September 18, 2024 morning ride

Why? Because the weather is still great for biking and I am able to do it. There are many who cannot because of illness, treatments, or various other reasons, but I can, so I do. Great day to be out for a quick ride!

September 12, 2024 morning ride

The weather is still favourable for biking, so this morning it was a quick ride to "the highway and back" with Oakie. I really didn't make a video, because it's getting kind of old going up that way, but it's nice and level for the most part, and they have allowed a decent biking lane for us. Just adding a few more kilometers before GCC 2024 wraps up I guess.

September 10, 2024 with Corrie Pool on the Bruce Trail in Tillsonburg

Where it all began....with Corrie Pool asking me to cycle and so we both joined Great Cycle Challenge. I have biked many kilometers with Corrie....from Woodstock to Arthur and back in two days, and then the following year, to Exeter and back the next day. Those have been my longest rides ever, but we have cycled many kilometers together, and then decided to do the Bruce Trail in Tillsonburg today. What a lovely day for biking....no wind to speak of, no humidity and beautiful sunshine on a great trail. We biked 34 kilometers today, so I have now surpassed my 400 kilometer goal by 107 kilometers. The kilometers count until September 27, 2024, so I may just get in a few more shorter rides before then, but I have accomplished what I set out to do for this year. Donations also remain open until September 27, 2024, so if you still wish to add to my totals, feel free to donate to my ride by clicking on the link......just remember, it's always about raising money to help the kids.....that is always the goal!

September 7, 2024 - first post GCC ride

Today I went out for a ride to add on a few more kilometers to my ride. The headwind was not fun, but the ride back was sweet. My plan is to go out on Tuesday with a friend, and then I hope to break the 500 kilometer mark. Hopefully, this also translates into a few more donations, but we shall see. The weather is supposed to be great for the next little while, so outdoor biking is still an option, before I have to resort to the indoor trainer.

September 2, 2024

Great Cycle Challenge 2024 has officially ended for me. I am please that I met both my kilometer and fundraising goals again this year! Thank you to all who helped make this happen by sponsoring and encouraging over the last eight months or so. I will take a break for a few months before I start thinking about GCC 2025. The site will remain open for a few more weeks, so if you missed making a donation, and still wish to do so, it's still possible. With your help I got SO close to making the $33,000.00 this year....just short by $14.99 lol

Once GCC 2024 is totally wrapped up, I will start working on a presentation that I have been invited to give in the spring. I want to wait until all the final numbers are in, before I do that though, so I will be able to give an accurate representation of how the current year ended up.

August 24, 2024 Day 24 at Harvest Fest in Ingersoll

My kilometers should be all finished tomorrow, but just to be sure they would be, I did a quick trip (?) down to Harvest Fest in the park to check out all the vendors and goings on today. There were a lot of vendors there, with lots of cool stuff....crafts, food, woodworking, balloon art, a car show, and just about anything you could imagine. My speed sure wasn't accurate today as I forgot to pause my ride several times and was just strolling through the park...lol

It was fun to see it all and I picked up my new bracelet which was replacing one which broke.

August 23, 2024 Day 23

This morning it wasn't too windy, the temperature was good, so the perfect day to get out for a few more kilometers. I have 25 kilometers left to reach my goal, and seven days to do it, so I suspect I will easily go over my 400 kilometers. We biked to "the highway and back" which has been most of my rides, so getting new pictures becomes a problem.....lol At the highway, we ran into a group of "biker chicks" on their way to Wasaga Beach. They were waiting to hook up with a few more riders there, and who should show up but Alisa Rodenburg. Who said school teachers don't have fun? Sorry Alisa, in chatting, I forgot to get a picture of you on your wheels, so I had to cheat and grab a couple from your facebook page. We chatted for a bit and the girls were on their way, and we headed home.