With everything we have all dealt with the past few months our hope is the bike continues to get you through the day. It is wonderful how much it continues to help. Even with all the new stress and heartbreak we all continue to live through. It is truly amazing what we all can endure.
This next challenge is exploring exactly that. What we are able and more importantly willing to endure (like we aren’t challenged enough)
Back to back massive rides covering large distances over varying terrain. How far will we go? As far as we need to go. How long will it take? As long as it needs to take.
The real focus is going big, REAL big to raise awareness and funds for a few great causes. The idea came from being inspired by people doing tremendous feats when their back is against the wall, with no choice or little to no hope. This is R4R challenge is born from the notion of living like you are dying. Lets not wait until we are sick or have a life compromising disease before we embark on a monumental quest. That quest can take place right now and the best part is it can be anything you want it to be. For us its riding massive distances on all types of bikes, covering all kinds of terrain. Putting in 10-12 hours a day, 250-300kms of distance, getting cleaned up, fuelled, hydrated and in bed to repeat it again the next day. All for Real change, Real cause, Real relief, Real heroes.
It is so inspiring the lengths that people will go to support the causes that are closest to their heart. Our hope is this inspires you to join us. This RIDE4REAL challenge is in place to push the boundaries together of what we can accomplish both on a off the bike. Providing real financial relief to those that support us and care for us.
FOREST CITY VELODROME
The sport of cycling is very much in need of groups who foster positive environments where youth can learn and grow. We would like to support all the youth that call the Forest City Velodrome home by looking after the operating costs of the facility for the 2020-2021 season. FCV is a non-profit group that runs a one of a kind facility that provides a one of a kind experience. The group there is completely run by a wonderful group of volunteers that are Real heroes in the community. They give their all to the building and everyone who enters it. This facility relies completely on fundraising to cover the operating costs and their real love for the sport is well worth taking on this monumental challenge to help off set the costs providing real relief.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY OF CANADA
This event will also support the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the help provide some much needed funding and relief to an organization filled with many real heroes. Below are some facts about this cause and the effects it has on so many Canadians.
1 – Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world. More than 77,000 Canadians live with MS with an average of 11 Canadians diagnosed each day.
2 - The current health crisis has impacted all Canadians, and for those affected by MS it’s another uncertain and unpredictable concern on top of an already challenging disease. The need for information, resources and support programs for people affected by MS is as urgent and critical as ever. Fundraising cannot slow down.
3 – Canada is home to some of the world’s leading MS researchers. The MS Society has contributed more than $175 million towards MS research since 1948. Our research investment has enabled us to fund ground-breaking research in a variety of areas, including causes and risk factors, symptom management, wellness, and treatments.
THE REAL HERO
Lastly we want to help launch a new project called The Real Hero. The concept of a cool action hero character that helps others and does amazing things in and around the community has been a few years in the making. In tough times or anytime there is a big decision to make a go-to thought of "what would a champion do?" has been great but so sport specific, the past few years this thought has changed to what would this fictitious comic book character "the Real Hero" do? Its good to think about this outside of sport when you are deciding what to do with your time, energy and how you want to build/design your life with purpose.
The Real Hero is a comic book character that lives in our dreams but we want to bring this individual to life. Someone to guide you and look up to. Some you look forward to seeing that puts a smile on your face. This individual's prime objective is to help others and try to bring joy and happiness to everyone around them. The Real Hero mascot celebrates life and cheers for you. The Real Hero mascot visits schools, hospitals and sporting events bringing energy and entertaining us while dropping off stickers and comic books with a great message. The Real Hero mascot will recognize the unsung heroes of our community with praise, thoughtful gifts and needed support. There are so many Real heroes out there that we want to recognize and celebrate. This project is very dear to our heart and we can’t wait to bring this dream to reality. Our hope is to have a Real Hero mascot along for the ride at every function and sporting event for years to come
The RIDE4REAL event website with more details on all our massive rides to come and how you can take part is still in the works and will be up shortly. Until then please join our Strava and FB event pages and follow our social media for live updates. We hope to answer all your questions very soon, including how to build your own R4R challenge and R4R team to join the fun :)
Thanks in advance for all your support with this event