Ready to Rock n Roll!

Well, tomorrow…August 1st….all our training rides get bumped off the site and we all start at 0 km towards our month long goals. I’m ready to jump on my Time Machine 🚲 ( get on it at 70 and get off feeling like I’m 35 ) and put in my 1000 km and raise at least $5000. I had a good June 816 km and July 916km in afternoon heat so August won’t seem so rough. I’ve banked 4272 km towards my virtual cross Canada ride goal too so feeling confident I’ll make the 7821 km by end of year. #griffinmyheartforever #fightlikeakid

Sam Says Thanks For Your Donations

Meet Sam

3-year-old Sam is our official GUARDIAN level ambassador. 🧡

In May 2024, Sam was diagnosed with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

As he was classified "high-risk", Sam required more intensive treatment.

The first month of chemotherapy, known as the induction phase, was really tough. Sam endured intensive chemo and fought a serious bacterial infection following port-insertion surgery.

His treatment journey since then has had its ups and downs, but the constant support of his care team has been a source of great comfort.

This March, Sam was given a second diagnosis of Noonan syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that can affect growth, facial features, heart function, and development.

This diagnosis is helping his team better monitor his treatment, and the way his body responds.

Sam's bright and goofy personality continues to shine as he bravely fights this disease. He's made so many friends in the oncology ward. 😊

This is one amazing little man.

Today, Sam has a message for you: THANK YOU !

Today is Tribute Day

Remembering all those special children who sadly have succumbed to cancer and all those still struggling to cope with this dreadful disease. We will never give up trying to help nor will we forget those who have left this Earth. #GriffinMyHeartForever #fightlikeakid

$ 1 Million Mark Reached

We've now raised $1,000,000 to fight kids' cancer! 🥳🙌✨

Our buddy Liam the Legend made this spectacular multicolored sign to help celebrate this 'AMAZING' and 'FANTASTIC' milestone. 💪

9-year-old Liam is bravely fighting leukemia for the 3rd time in his young life.

His cancer journey has been a rollercoaster, and he continues to face the highs and lows with incredible maturity and positivity. ✊

Your AMAZING fundraising efforts are giving hope to Liam and his family that we can live in a world free from childhood cancer. 🧡

So, let's celebrate this achievement and continue to smash these AMAZING MILESTONES…

Because kids like Liam should be living life, not fighting for it. #GriffinMyHeartForever

Sam Thanks Everyone!

MEET SAM

3-year-old Sam is a caring, goofy and mischievous boy who is currently in maintenance treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Last year, on May 26, Sam was rushed to his local hospital and then urgently transferred to SickKids in Toronto.

At the time, his platelet count was dangerously low (at just 5), which meant his blood couldn’t clot properly – putting him at serious risk of internal bleeding.

He was admitted for immediate treatment, and further testing confirmed the devastating news…

Sam was diagnosed with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The “high-risk” classification meant that Sam’s case required more intensive treatment. His family’s world was turned upside down, and those early days were overwhelming. It was hard to process what was happening, and what was still to come.

Sam’s first month of treatment, known as the induction phase, was tough. He endured multiple rounds of intensive chemotherapy and developed a serious bacterial infection following port insertion surgery. Further surgery was required to remove the initial port and insert a PICC line to deliver treatments.

Thankfully, the next stretch of treatment went more smoothly. He completed the consolidation phase of chemotherapy and his first round of specialized immunotherapy drug Blina without any major setbacks.

The first interim maintenance phase of treatment then brought new challenges. It was especially hard on his little body, but the constant support of his SickKids team brought his family a lot of comfort. His mom, Tiffany, told us, “They were always there when we needed them… we always felt heard.”

In January 2025, after a much-needed break between treatments, Sam’s family returned to Toronto for his second round of immunotherapy.

He is currently undergoing the second interim maintenance phase, the next step in his long treatment plan.

Thanks to advanced genetic testing, Sam has recently been given another diagnosis that allowed his care team to better monitor his treatment and understand why all this may have happened.

Sam’s original leukemia tests flagged markers that pointed to another condition, and in March, Sam was officially diagnosed with Noonan syndrome. It is a genetic disorder that can affect growth, facial features, heart function, and development. So far, Sam’s case appears mild. His parents have also undergone genetic testing to understand whether the condition was inherited, and they are waiting on results.

They told us, “SickKids is crucial to our family. It’s healing, Sam, and it’s healing us. Without their genetic testing and research, we never would have discovered his second diagnosis.”

By now, Sam is a familiar face in the oncology ward at SickKids. Whenever he visits, he announces himself with a cheerful, “I’m baaack!!”

He may be a little guy, but he has a big, bright personality! He loves dressing up as a ninja or Darth Vader, insists on wearing his signature yellow rain boots in all weather, and goes through hilarious food phases… sautéed mushrooms are his current obsession.

Sam’s cancer journey isn’t over yet, he continues to bravely fight this disease with his family by his side.

GCC’ers, let’s pedal as hard as we can for Super Sam this August!

A Ride for the Brave

Lovely poem from one of our GCC riders Lily Sotomayor that says a lot about what motivates us to keep pedalling for kids with cancer. #griffinmyheartforever # fightlikeakid

Instagram Rider Profile from GCCCanada today

Legacy rider Don has ridden 14,283km and raised $28,309 over the last 7 years… and he’s gearing up for another big year of riding to save little lives! 🚴‍♂️

This dedicated GCC’er rides in memory of Griffin “Griff” Bell, and to honour his wife of 46 years, Heather (pictured). 🧡

Don learned of Griff’s story through his son who knows the Bell family well. Griff passed away in March 2024 at just 6 years old, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. The 26th of June would have been Griff’s 8th birthday. 💔

While Don and Griff never had the chance to meet in person, Don can feel Griff’s presence with him when he rides. Having supported his wife through her own long battle with cancer, Griff’s story touched him deeply.

His inspiring wife, Heather, has been managing the challenges of breast cancer since her initial diagnosis in 1999, and a later aggressive recurrence in 2011. In Don’s words, “her toughness is beyond measure, and there is no quit in her character.” 💪

Thankfully, Heather is now in remission and cherishing every precious moment and milestone with her family.

Inspired by Griff and Heather, Don has set himself a GCC ride goal of 1,000km AND an annual cycling goal of riding the equivalent of the distance across Canada (a casual 7,821km).

GCC’ers, let’s hear it for the incredible Don! 🙌

https://www.instagram.com/p/DL9w7Mtp6wN/?igsh=MThpMjR1YTJrcmEwNw==

#griffinmyheartforever #fightlikeakid

1/2 way across 🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇦

6 months in and 3356 km completed so well on track for my cross country goal by end of the year. Happy Canada Day weekend. #griffinmyheartforever

Thinking even more about Griff and the Bell family today

Today Griff Bell would have turned 8 years of age. We all ride each year so other children with cancer can live to celebrate many more birthdays with their loved ones. #griffinmyheartforever

Year 8 Rides Well Underway

Happy to say that in the past 7 years of the GCC during the month each year of recorded rides and fundraising , I’ve been able to log 14,283 km and raise $28,257.08. Looking forward to doing this event again this year and achieving/ exceeding my goal of 1000 km and $5000. My other annual goal that I aim for is riding the equivalent of across Canada ( 7821 km ) from Jan to Dec and so far I’m on track with 2932 km completed. All for a great cause for some amazing children and their families. #GriffinMyHeartForever