Riding to Ottawa for those who died in the line of duty
Hamilton paramedics part of contingent on fundraising ride for a national memorial
A group of Hamilton paramedics is cycling more than 500 kilometres to raise money for a memorial to honour those whose lives were lost in the line of duty.
Close to 50 paramedics and nurses are participating in the first stretch of the ride called the Hammer TO, which will see cyclists take off from Station 15 in Hamilton Thursday and arrive at Toronto’s CN Tower later that day.
Twenty Hamilton paramedics and four support staff — dubbed “the Escarpment City Gears” — are part of a group of close to 180 paramedics taking part in the second stretch of the ride.
Starting Friday morning, they will cycle more than 500 kilometres from Toronto to Ottawa over four days.
The group, who will meet up with 127 riders from Quebec, will arrive in Ottawa Monday afternoon after stops in Port Hope, Kingston and Brockville.
This is the sixth annual Paramedic Ride — a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the paramedic community — but the third year local paramedics are taking part, said Hamilton paramedic Supt. David Thompson.
Thompson, who has participated all three years, said the best part of the gruelling ride is the camaraderie that develops.
“You leave as a rider and come back as a family,” he said.
The cyclists have been training throughout the year for the primarily self-funded ride, he added.
The funds raised through the Paramedic Ride support the Canadian Paramedic Memorial Foundation, which is committed to building a national monument to honour fallen Canadian paramedics.
Since 1980, 48 Canadian paramedics have lost their lives in the line of duty, according to the foundation.
Currently, other first responders like the military, police and firefighters have a national memorial in Ottawa but paramedics do not, said Thompson.
So far this year, Hamilton paramedics have raised $5,000 through their fundraising efforts.
For more information about the ride, visit paramedicride.ca.