Ride for Refuge a family affair
The Parish aims to double tally from last year’s event with Oct. 3 benefit ride
GOLF:
BODYBUILDING:
A fundraiser is taking place for a second time in town and organizers hope they double the totals of the first affair last year.
The second Ride for Refuge is being held by host and operator the Parish, with the start and finish at its site of 567 Monaghan Rd, on the southwest corner of Cameron and Monaghan on Oct. 3.
The fundraiser is a familyfriendly event and features a fivekilometre walk, which is new, a 10km, 25km, and 50km bike ride that teams will ride to raise money for their respective non-profit charities to support exploited, vulnerable and displaced people. As the host, the Parish is putting teams together to raise enough money to support a refugee family, which has been selected, to come to Peterborough.
There were 22 teams and about 150 participants, including volunteers, in the event representing nine different charities and an estimated $31,000 was raised by the participating teams for their charities last year. The Parish raised close to $7,000 towards bringing a refugee family from Syria to Peterborough. Already 24 teams have registered this year.
“We would love to double that this year,” said Rachael Kloosterman, event director. “It means a lot that people want to help a charity and make the world a better place. A lot of people need help and if people sit back and not do anything, they don’t help the problem. People can make a contribution and help a charity that supports these people. The ride is a source of hope.”
Since 2004, the ride has raised more than $6 million across Canada and in select American cities.
Kloosterman is an age group coach with the Trent Swim Club and has received volunteer help from her swimmers for the event.
Registration opens on the day of the ride at 8 a.m. with opening ceremonies scheduled for 45 minutes later. The ride segment is set to start for all distances at 9 a.m. with the walk beginning 30 minutes after that. Registration will close at 10 a.m. with the lunch service, provided by JoAnne’s Health Food Store, starting at 10:30 a.m. and running to about 2 p.m. The route closes at 2:30 p.m.
Most sites offer child-friendly routes (where possible) that are well-staffed with encouraging and responsible volunteers. Along the route, riders and walkers will encounter rest stops, support vehicles and route marshals to support them.
Participants can register individually, join a team, or captain their own team. Registration is done online at rideforrefuge. org/location/peterborough.