Big Move rides into 10th anniversary
Tracey Breedon was certain she’d never last 100 kilometres when she signed up for the first Big Move Cancer Ride in 2009. For starters, the Niagara Falls woman wasn’t an avid cyclist despite choosing the longest of three ride options in Niagara Health Foundation’s cycling fundraiser for the Walker Family Cancer Centre.
Breedon’s confidence wasn’t helped by her bike’s odometer, either. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t clock more than 60 clicks on her practice rides.
“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Breedon recalled. “I didn’t have a fancy bike. I wasn’t an avid rider. I thought, ’I’m never going to make it.’ ”
Then there was her fundraising goal. She wanted to raise the suggested goal of $500 — no simple feat for someone who doesn’t like asking people for money.
But Breedon would achieve both goals with relative ease during that inaugural Big Move. It turned out that pesky odometer was set to miles, so pedalling 100 kilometres on ride day was no problem, save for the odd hill.
As for Breedon’s fundraising goal, she hit that, too. She’s also increased and smashed it every year since earning her a spot in the Big Move’s Platinum Peddlers
Club – a club that recognizes fundraisers who have gone above and beyond. Last year, she secured $4,500 in donations — $1,000 above her target — all of which stayed in Niagara to support patients at the regional Walker Family Cancer
Centre.
When Breedon starts practicing with a more reliable odometer for this year’s Big Move Cancer Ride, happening Sunday, Sept. 9, she’ll be gunning for at least $4,501 and another
100 kilometres.
She isn’t doing this for bragging rights, however. Breedon is motivated by the impact she and other riders over the years have had on cancer treatment in Niagara. “This cause strikes me because the money stays here in Niagara region. It’s the biggest give-back you can do for your own community,” she said.
More than $3.4 million has been raised since that first Big Move Cancer Ride in 2009. Those funds have helped purchase vital patient care equipment of the Walker Family Cancer Centre, including new equipment used in targeted radiation treatments.
The new Cancer centre, which opened in 2013, sees more than 7,200 patients every year. Prior to that, Niagara residents had to travel to Hamilton or beyond for radiation treatment. Breedon’s stepdad, Jim, who had skin cancer, was among them.
“I know to have to go all the way to Hamilton, after treatment, he wasn’t comfortable,” Breedon recalled. “Because it was skin cancer, he had to have radiation treatment on his whole body. He couldn’t walk on his feet. It’s hard, hard on everybody, and then to travel on top of the illness.” Still, it offered perspective. Getting out of her comfort zone to cycle 100 kilometres and ask people for donations year after year seems small in comparison to what Jim, who overcame his cancer, and others with the disease go through, Breedon said.
It’s the local impact that’s inspired many riders like Breedon to sign up for the non-competitive cycling event every year since it started, said Roger Ali, Niagara Health Foundation’s President and CEO .
“The thing we hear again and again, no matter who we talk to, is the fact they’re supporting cancer care here at home,” Ali said. “They can see the impact they’re making right in their own backyard.”
They don’t have to pedal
100 kilometres or raise thousands of dollars, either. Riders can choose to cycle
25, 50 or 100 kilometres, and participants are asked to raise a minimum $500, though it’s not mandatory. This year, the Big Move Cancer Ride is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the theme “10 years inspired.” Niagara Health Foundation hopes that this milestone year will encourage more people to get involved in support of local cancer care in Niagara. “It doesn’t matter what distance you ride. It’s the participation itself,” Breedon said. “It’s a little bit of time to dedicate to something that is a big part of the community.”
To sign up for The Big Move Cancer Ride, or for more information on volunteering or sponsoring a rider, visit
bigmovecancerride.com, email info@bigmovecancerride.com or call 905-323-FUND (3863).