A History On The Team Part 2 of 2

We stay connected year round and are continuously motivating each other throughout the other months of the year before and after the event. 

Connecting with others through social media, phone calls and even in person during group rides has a lot of benefits for all parties involved. Take the time to get together with others in your area when possible and share in the common interest of cycling for a cause, you’ll quickly learn how much you have in common with so many and there is also lots to learn from each other too. Having each other as a resource to get questions answered and also share information with is extremely beneficial for all those involved. 

A History On The Team Part 1 Of 2

It started as a team of 2!

How unicyclist Zachary Wells continues to UNIte riders from coast to coast in the ride to fight kids’ cancer.

Info on how the team formed in the first place.

In 2020 my niece Maddison, who was 7yrs old at the time, showed an interest in participating in the Great Cycle Challenge Canada with me, her Uncle Zachy. It was at this time that I created the team called ‘Together We Ride’. During this particular year of the event I chose to keep it as a team of two. Below is a poem that I wrote that year to share with the GCCC community. 

‘Together We Ride’

Now more than ever our society is changing, 

let's take the time to make sure that we keep on engaging. 
One wheel, two wheels, three or more, get outside when you can, it doesn't have to be a chore. 
Stay active, keep smiling, we're in this together, 
for Sick Kids we ride to help them get better.

During the 2020 Challenge, Maddison raised a whopping $3,882.93 and pedaled 52.6km in the month of August to help fight kids’ cancer and I couldn’t have been more proud of this amazing accomplishment. In September 2020, nearing the end of the fundraising pages remaining active, my personal fundraising efforts had reached $9,260.60 of my $10,000.00 goal. Then I received an unexpected, last minute donation, in the amount of $739.40 from an amazing cyclist by the name of Walburga Pagniello. I quickly came to know more about this amazing individual once I called to thank them for their generous donation. This act of kindness gave me an idea for the 2021 event!

Fast forward to the 2021 registration for the Great Cycle Challenge Canada; it was time to open up our team of two and welcome more riders from coast to coast. I registered in January this time around, earlier than any other year.  I was able to get a handful of riders very quickly through my immediate circle of cycling friends, and then word began to spread. By March 4th, with approximately 36 riders and counting, we’d already raised $10,029.54 and were well on our way to meeting an exceeding our goals leading up to the campaign's start month of August. My niece Maddison was once again among the riders of this team, and it truly was becoming the ‘Together We Ride’ team. My team description read as follows: ‘This team will be ever growing with family, friends and anyone that I have met via this amazing event since 2017 should they be interested in joining us.’ Needless to say it also became people I hadn’t met too, and I was more than happy to welcome them onto the team. 

Last year this team of roughly 150 riders from across the country raised approximately $208,307.28 and pedaled 43,346km during the month of August. 

Way To Go Team!

My 2022 team message is the following: ‘Back for our second year of fundraising as a collective, the Together We Ride Year 2 Team is open to anyone participating in the event. Let's kick cancers butt!‘

Info about what motivates the team to ride in the challenge each year. 

This team is motivated year after year to ride in the challenge for many reasons. First and foremost to kick cancers butt and spread the message of the need to fight kids’ cancer. As a collective we can spread that message faster and further. Each individual rider also has their own motivation that keeps them moving. Whether they’ve dedicated their ride to someone who's lost their battle with cancer or is still living with it, or even if they have no personal connection at all, everyone has a story to share that inspires and helps to motivate others. 

Any other details that you think might be helpful and inspiring to other riders

I have a group chat that I created in 2021 with the riders on my team from coast to coast. Once they joined the team I connected them with our group chat which allows them to be part of an online community where they meet each other virtually. In some cases, this leads to meeting in person for group rides whenever and wherever possible.

This August, Together We Ride Year 3 is taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!

Why? Because right now, over 1,400 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and it's the biggest killer of children from disease in Canada.

Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.

So we are raising funds through our challenge to help these kids and support SickKids Foundation to allow them to continue their work in developing treatments and finding a cure for childhood cancer.

Please support us by making a donation to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.

Your support will change little lives.

Thank you.

Zachary