Over 580 Riders Raise Over $635,033 at Ride for Cancer

NOTE TO EDITORS: Video, photo, and interview opportunities of Ride for Cancer participants crossing the finish line today between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. at LED Roadway Lighting, 115 Chain Lake Drive, Halifax.

HALIFAX, Sept. 29, 2018 /CNW/ - On Saturday, September 29, a community of over 580 riders, 140 volunteers, sponsors, and supporters came together and raised over $635,033 net for cancer care in this region – and that number is still growing. 

Ride for Cancer powered by BMO Bank of Montreal is Atlantic Canada's largest one-day fundraising cycling event and is hosted in partnership by the QEII Foundation and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

Since the event began four years ago, Ride for Cancer powered by BMO Bank of Montreal has raised more than $1.7 million dollars.

"Funds raised here, stay here and make a big impact on advancing cancer care in the province," says Bill Bean, President and CEO, QEII Foundation. "Ride for Cancer is a chance for us to collectively make a big impact on a disease that touches so many of us."   

That impact was increased when the Brookfield family announced that one of their companies, Wacky's Flooring Group, donated $100,000 towards advancing cancer care at the QEII. For rider Gary Harris, who recently marked the 20 year anniversary of his first bone marrow transplant, the funds are welcome news.    

Gary was joined on his ride by his two-time bone marrow donor, who lives in Germany, but made the journey to celebrate with Gary and the entire Ride community on their fight against cancer.    

Riders took to the road or the Rum Runners Trail from Mahone Bay to Halifax – with distance options ranging from 25 kilometres all the way to 160 kilometres. No matter the distance, the goal was the same – supporting Atlantic Canadians battling cancer.

Funds raised from the 2018 Ride for Cancer event will help build a new world-leading cancer therapy preparation lab at the QEII that will help deliver life-saving doses faster, doubling capacity and shortening wait times for patients, and fund patient and family support programs through The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.  

"The Ride for Cancer community is incredible," says Trudy Dyer, Regional Director, Atlantic Canada, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. "There are so many emotions experienced on event day that truly show the impact we are having together."

Presenting sponsor of Ride for Cancer for the fourth year in a row, BMO Bank of Montreal has played an integral role in the success of the annual cycling event.

To learn more about the impact of Ride for Cancer, visit YourRideForCancer.ca.

SOURCE QEII FOUNDATION

Tanya MacLean, APR, VP, Communications and Marketing, QEII Foundation, 902 489 5664, [email protected]; Dianna MacDonald, Event Manager, QEII Foundation, 902 717 5846, [email protected]