Walkers, runners and cyclists of all skill levels are invited to the annual Ride n’ Stride event in Elmira on Apr. 29, organized by the Canadian Cancer Society. The non-competitive event encourages participants to complete a 4 km, 10 km or 20 km course with the goal of raising funds for research and support services for people in Waterloo Region that are living with the disease.
“The problem is that so many of us have been touched by cancer,” said Sarah Bradshaw, the chair of the Woolwich event and herself a survivor of breast cancer.
“We always have a core of people that come back. There are some people in the community who have participated for well over 20 years, which is quite cool.”
”
Last year some 50 to 75 participants in Elmira raised nearly $10,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, and over 30 years in the region the Ride n’ Stride has raised more than $2 million benefiting people in Waterloo Region and beyond.
Participants familiar with the event will also be familiar with the route, as it will once again start out at Elmira District Secondary School, follow Arthur Street north to the Kissing Bridge Trail, and then along the trail to either Floradale Road or Side Road 18 at Wallenstein, depending on how far you choose to go.
“It’s anyone who can get themselves to the Kissing Bridge Trail and back again,” laughed Bradshaw.
“Whether they’re riding or walking or running, we always have people pushing strollers and doing whatever works for you.”
Every year between 75 and 100 people participate in the Elmira event, but numbers were down slightly last year due to a scheduling conflict that placed the Healthy Communities Month triathlon on the same day as the Ride n’ Stride, but with no such conflict this year Bradshaw is hoping for a strong turnout and for upwards of $15,000 for crucial cancer research.
Participants can register on the day of the event, which is free and has refreshments and entertainment by the band Wishful Thinkin’, which includes musicians Larry Lesperance and Paul Bossenberry.
You can register and collect pledges online at www.greatride.ca or by contacting Bradshaw at (519) 669-2599 or emailing angusquinn@rogers.com.
