Riding for a cancer cure
By Chris Simon

Local residents Nicole John, left, and Nicole Howes will be among about 3,000 participants in the inaugural Ride to Conquer Cancer, which will benefit The Photo by Chris Simon Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Participants will ride over 200-kilometres from Toronto to Niagara Falls in June.

Biking from Toronto to Niagara Falls just seems like a good thing to do, especially while raising money for a good cause. That's the common response from several local residents who will be participating in the inaugural Ride to Conquer Cancer, a two day, 200-kilometre bike ride, which will benefit The Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. The event, which will take place from June 20 to 22, aims to raise money for cancer research at the hospital, said participant and Innisfil resident and Team Total Fitness member Chad Stasiuk.

"I've never done anything like this before," he said. "We're all local guys (in the team) who got together to do the ride. We want to raise as much money as possible."

Over 3,000 riders are expected to participate in the event. Each rider has to raise at least $2,500 to take part, however many are setting their fundraising goals significantly higher. Stasiuk and his four member team - which consists of brother Kyle and friends Jason Kell and Brett Mosley - hopes to raise a total of $15,000.

Team Total Fitness will participate in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in June.

"We do a lot of cycling, we always ride together," said Stasiuk. "We're going to be three or four months training for this, it's not like you can just hop on a bike and do this. We've been spending a lot of time training. It's a long ride, we better be ready."

Others are hoping to inspire their family and friends. South Barrie resident Nicole Howes and her friend Nicole John will be riding in the event. Howes, who recently gave birth to a daughter, is using the event to get back into shape and set a positive example.

"My grandmother died of lung cancer in 2004, and that's part of my reason for (doing) this," said Howes. "Nowadays, you can't go to anybody who doesn't know somebody that has a relative that's been affected. This was a really good idea, it gets us back in shape ... and it's something I can point to in 15 years and show (my daughter) what I did."

Over the next few months, Howes and John, The Wheelers, will host several fundraising events, in hopes of raising an overall team goal of $6,400.

"Not a lot of people can say they've ridden from Toronto to Niagara Falls on a bike; everybody thinks we're nuts, but at least I can say I did it," said Howes. "We're trying to get this out there, to fundraise."

Stasiuk says the event will help raise valuable money for fighting cancer, a disease that affects 33 per cent of Canadians. Several of Stasiuk's family members have been afflicted with cancer.

"Cancer affects everyone. I have stood by as several of my family members and friends have fought this deadly disease," he said. "Many have won the battle, sadly however, some have not. I have decided to do something about it; to fight back. Every dollar I raise will directly impact the lives of cancer patients all over Ontario."

All the participants know the event will be grueling at times. However, riders will be supported by hundreds of volunteers and crew members along the route, who will provide meals, refreshment stops, gear transportation, portable restrooms, street safety, medical services and an overnight campsite in Hamilton.

For more information on the event, or to sponsor a rider, visit www.conquercancer. ca or call 416-815- 7433.

Locally, Stasiuk and Howes can be contacted at 456-5030 and 252-3843 respectively.