Memories of Big Bike

British Columbia

Century Group and South Delta Ride Prove that Community Spirit is What Matters Most
It has often been thought that the Big Bike event does best in larger communities where there are lots of bigger companies with lots of employees to draw upon to pull together Big Bike teams. But the communities of South Delta and the Property management company, Century Group, proved that theory all wrong.

The Richmond Area Office had long been reluctant to try a Big Bike event in South Delta because of the relatively small size of the communities of Ladner and Tsawwassen and the fact that these are predominately residential rather than large business communities. But thanks to the eagerness and support of local newspaper, The South Delta Leader, to bring the Big Bike to South Delta, we gave it a try in 2009. The result was overwhelming.

What South Delta may lack in terms of large employers it more than makes up for in community spirit! The event was planned as a half-day (morning) as a trial in its first year, with a goal of having 4 teams ride. But due to the overwhelming response, teams had to be turned away when the morning quickly filled up with 6 enthusiastic teams.

And none was more enthusiastic than the team from Century Group. Despite only having a total of about 40 local employees, they filled all 29 seats on their bike. They also had everyone on the team register online (the only team to do so), and it obviously paid off. Century Group had the greatest success of any team in the Richmond area raising $6,940 online, and, incredibly in its first year, a total of $12,475 overall - the most money raised by any one team in the history of the Richmond area office!

And despite the fact that it rained on the South Delta ride morning, you couldn't dampen the spirits of any of these teams. Together they raised an incredible $28,341 in just 3 ½ hours time and had a great time doing it! So it just goes to show you it's not the size of the community or the company that guarantees Big Bike success but the size of their hearts. And the teams of South Delta have proven that theirs are immense!

With the Heart of a Lion!
In 2009 the Tumbler Ridge Lion’s Club boarded the Big Bike for the 3rd year ready to make it bigger and better than ever. When Captain Claudette Huber approached her team with a goal of over $8000 the Prince George Area Office was blown away.

The team decided to call themselves "Lions Heart" and with the strength and courage of 29 lions they managed to raise over $8400 in their community of only 3000 people! After the ride the Lion’s club arranged a barbeque with all proceeds going towards the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The food was great, the friends were plenty and they raised another $250 in one hour! The team spirit and community support were absolutely amazing and we can’t wait to see what they do this year! Great job Lions!

RE/MAX and Royal LePage both came out with 29 riders full of enthusiasm and together their heartfelt challenge raised over $ 6000! This was the first year riding for both teams and the first time on the bike for almost everyone! The challenge will remain for next year and hopefully for years to come, with both teams eager to ride!

Port Alberni goes over the top for Big Bike!
The community of Port Alberni pulled together this year to create a phenomenal result for Heart&Stroke Big Bike 2009. With six new teams, over $15,900 was raised! This is two and a half times more than their 15 year average! While the resource-based community may be feeling the effects of the economy, that did not dampen spirits as team captains recruited riders and team members got busy raising pledges and pulling together costumes. Online fundraising was a big hit in the Alberni Valley, with 25% of their funds raised through online pledge requests! Way to go, Port Alberni!

Remax Crest put their hearts into it
Jeff Dennis and his team of Realtors from Remax Crest definitely know how to put their hearts into it. This was Remax Crest's first year to have a Big Bike team on the North Shore, although Jeff had previously been a Team Captain before. Jeff was very keen from the start, constantly after his fellow workers to join the team and get busy with online fundraising. This is exactly what the team did. Almost all of the riders signed up online and got the word out to friends, family and colleagues that they were involved in this very FUN Fundraising event. $6560 total was what they raised online!

May 15th was a beautiful sunny day at the Village at Park Royal in West Vancouver. The Remax Cycle Maniacs were there with their red team shirts ready to go!

Remax Crest won the spirit award for the West Vancouver ride day and also were the very first to sign up a team for 2010! We look forward to seeing the sea of red Remax shirts again at Park Royal as they gear up to meet and exceed their fundraising this year.

Big Support for Big Mike
During the Spring of 2009, Mike Oddy of Golden and his family were devastated to learn that he would have to travel to Calgary to undergo a series of very serious surgeries. Upon learning of this, the town of Golden mobilized. Everybody pitched in to help in whatever way that they could. Michael's cousin, Daniello Huxley decided to do something for Mike that would remind him that all of his friends and family were thinking of him. They decided to participate in Golden's wildly successful annual Big Bike festivities, name their team after Mike and ride in his honour. They hooted and hollered through the streets of Golden, shouting Mike’s name while they raised funds and awareness for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Big Mike and his friends and family showed their hearts are as Golden as their town!

Ontario

Curves Stouffville has heart!
On May 13th the ladies from Curves in Stouffville participated in the big bike event and truly put their heart into it! The team was full with 29 enthusiastic riders and despite the rainy weather demonstrated the most team spirit of the day! The team quickly surpassed their fundraising goal and eventually raised $6,200!! Amazing considering this was their first year riding!! Not only were they the highest fundraising team of the day, they were the highest online fundraising team in Stouffville- they also won the team spirit award! Many of the riders had a personal connection to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and you certainly could see that when they were on the bike!

Thank you to the team captain and participants for making the Curves Creations so amazing !

York Central Hospital Gears up for its 2nd Annual Hospital Wide Big Bike Day June 25th, 2009
In 2008 York Central Hospital had its first participation in the Heart & Stroke Big Bike for the York South office. The hospital entered 6 teams, including the "Rollin for Lauren" team captained by Colleen Jones and Sandi Tanner who raised $12,500. In total the 6 hospital teams raised over $20,000. This year they have entered 8 teams, and are hoping to raise even more funds for life saving research. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT!

Cooperators Insurance beating the odds and staying on top!
The Cooperators team has been involved with Big Bike since 1998, with a total of 9 years participation. They have raised a total of $34,858, making them the top overall fundraising team in Peterborough and area.

But the truly amazing and inspiring story is from their 2008 event in Peterborough.

The Captain, Melanie Van Veen, only 44 years old, suffered a sudden massive heart attack on April 10th at 10:15 in the evening, resulting in an induced medical coma.

Melanie received an ICD (Implantable cardioverter defibrillator) on May 5th allowing her to come out and attend the event with her team on May 14th. Of course her happy coworkers gave up their easy seat for her!

The team ended up raising $4,689 (including matching donations), their highest total ever.

Thunder Bay's first ever Survivor Ride a huge success!
Thunder Bay's Survivor ride was used as a kick off to the 2008 Big Bike season, the team was rallied to raise money and raise the awareness of heart disease and stroke in our community. The team consisted of old and young, heart disease and stroke survivors from the local community.

A young survivor kicked off the event by telling their story and how receiving the tPA shot changed their life forever. It was an emotional ride for many and a very meaningful ride for the Heart and Stroke Foundation staff in the Thunder Bay office.

The survivor ride raised over $3,000.00 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation – a huge thanks goes out to all the brave survivors who participated.

Thunder Bay Big Bike Captain leads 4 teams with Big Heart!
2009 marks over 10 years of service for a Captain and participant in Thunder Bay's Big Bike Event. Jan Mior long time supporter of Heart and Stroke unselfishly captained (4) teams for this Year's Big Bike event. Two teams consist of friends and family from the Thunder Bay Regional health Science Centre, and two teams for St Paul's Anglican Church. Together these four teams raised over $12,000 in 2009 alone. Having 21 years in the Nursing industry, Jan has seen first- hand the affects of Heart and Stroke on Patients and their families. She gives back the best way she can by organizing, keeping track and captaining all her teams to success. Will there be a fifth team in Jan's future for 2010? That is a question that only Jan can answer. Go Jan Go! Thank you Jan from the bottom of Our Hearts!

Legacy of a community leader
The family and friends of successful Perdue, Saskatchewan entrepreneur Jim Scharf wanted to honour the memory of their husband, father, grandfather, employer and friend in a way that would make a difference in the lives of other families. Last summer, they hosted a golf tournament at Scharf's Perdue Oasis golf course and the staff at the company he founded, E-ZEEWRAP, held a Big Bike ride to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan. Scharf passed away early in 2009 from a heart attack.

This was the first bike ride for the company, while some of the staff had participated in different rides over the years. This was a special time for them all to pay tribute to their friend. The events of the day raised over $11,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the team has another ride scheduled for July. Way to put your heart in it!

SIAST Smart Hearts
Staff and students at SIAST in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, join forces to raise money for the Foundation and are learning a valuable life lesson. "We thought that incorporating a fitness activity into a fundraiser was a good way to both educate our students on the risk associated with heart disease and stroke and impress upon them the importance of supporting the work of agencies like the Foundation," said Shelley Jones, SIAST Big Bike team co-chair. "The Heart and Stroke Foundation driver team made our experience both fitness-oriented and fun!"

The Smart Hearts had two fun rides this year: in the Moose Jaw Santa Claus Parade in November and again in the summer. The team will ride again this year, as they love the way it gets their staff and students working together in support of a great cause. They already raised more than $6,200 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, but more importantly, are passing on the spirit of giving to a new generation of young adults.

Swiss Chalet Crusaders celebrate 10 years of Big Bike riding!
Wanda Bishop, Team Captain for the Swiss Chalet Crusaders in Keswick truly puts her heart into riding the Big Bike every year. Wanda has been the team captain for the last 10 years and every year she recruits Swiss Chalet staff, customers and even the Mayor of Keswick to ride on her team! Over the past 10 years the Swiss Chalet Crusaders have raised over $30,000! It is community supporters like Wanda that makes the biggest impact, by continuing her support and advocacy for the need to participate in the BIG BIKE the Heart & Stroke Foundation is able to continue their research work on heart disease and stroke as well as bringing awareness of the importance of heart health to our communities. Thank you Wanda for your continued support, you have truly helped to save lives through your tremendous support!

Peek-a-Boo Has Heart
This year the staff at Peek-a-Boo Day Care in Newmarket participated in the Big Bike for Stroke on May 1st. This was the first time for many to ride the big bike and they had an incredible time - one to remember! The Staff sold paper hearts to parents at the day care to help raise money and in total the team raised over $3,000! The team had demonstrated the most team spirit of the day, with a theme and matching t-shirts! Not only were they the highest fundriasers they also won the Team Spirit Award!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON TEAM PEEK-A-BOO FOR PUTTING YOUR HEARTS INTO THE BIG BIKE!!

WALLY GIVES BACK TO THE HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION
The big bike tries to stay away from steep inclines however, Wallys Wheels from Lindsay has been on a steady steep incline of raising funds since 1st riding the Big Bike in 2004. Lindsay is 1 of the 5 Big Bike Event locations under the Peterborough Area Office. This year Wally’s team raised an amazing $8,780.00! The team captain Wally Nugent raised $2124.00 himself.

His business Wallys Haircutting looks like a Big Bike Museum. Captain shirts, team shirts, team pictures, spirit awards, banners adorn the walls. In 7 short years his team has raised.....a drum roll please ... $41,142.73.

I asked Wally how his team got started, this was his reply:
When I had a quadruple bypass in Dec. 2002 the community was great to me and my family. I decided to give back every chance I could. In 2003 I participated in the Big Bike as part of the cardiac rehab team. I decided I could put together my own team of family, community and cardiac survivors, thus was born WALLYS WHEELS. Each year I set our goal higher and each year my gang responds incredibly. I look ford to 3 years from now when my granddaughter is old enough to ride the Big Bike. We always follow our ride with a picnic thanks to the hard work of my wife and other team members.

The "Cool Cats" Put Their Hearts into Big Bike
The Giant Tiger "Cool Cats" took to the streets pedaling the Heart & Stroke Big Bike on April 30th, 2010. With an oversized day of 13 rides, the waterside host location was thriving with community spirit in Trenton, Ontario. Big Bike is an annual event for the Giant Tiger gang, always trying to improve their team spirit from the previous year. It was no doubt to us that they had captured the Team Spirit Award when they arrived in hats, homemade costumes, painted faces and mascot in tow. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT!

Manitoba

John's Riders raise almost $4,600 in Portage
The 2009 Heart&Stroke Big Bike ride in Portage la Prairie was the most successful in the event's 17-year-history, and John Rennie’s Memorial Riders played a huge part in that success. "Unfortunately it took a tragic event to get involved with the Heart and Stroke Foundation," says John Rennie's widow Sharon Rennie. "But I'm really glad that I did. It's been very comforting to be involved – and the ride itself was fun and a celebration of John's life with family and friends."

John was a fit 55-year-old with a third degree black belt in Ju-jitsu. He was well respected by members of the Portage Ju-jitsu club and the teachers and students he dealt with as a curriculum coordinator for the Portage la Prairie School Division. Everyone was shocked when he passed away after a massive heart attack. "He literally just got off the treadmill," says Sharon. "It was the last thing you expected as fitness was an important part of his lifestyle. We knew there was a history of heart disease on both sides of his family, but he was certainly the youngest who was forced to deal with it."

After his passing, Sharon got involved with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba (HSFM), taking a role on the Portage la Prairie Big Bike organizing committee. "Sharon was incredibly helpful," says Catherine Newham, Program Coordinator for HSFM's central region. "Not only did she help to organize the entire Portage la Prairie event, her team raised almost $4,600, the most in Portage, and one of the highest totals in the province." "I was absolutely blown away by the phenomenal personal support from family and friends," says Sharon. "People really liked John. He was genuine and kind, but quiet. With John, what you saw is what you got." Sharon expects to continue participating with the Big Bike in the future. "A number of people said they would do it again next year," Sharon says. "The whole event was well organized and it is something John would have enjoyed doing, having fun participating in physical activity with family and friends."

Gerdau Re-Cyclers pedal past the competition
Gerdau Ameristeel Manitoba Mill and Gerdau Ameristeel Recycling Manitoba have participated in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Big Bike Ride since 2006 as the Gerdau Re-Cyclers team.

Participation has increased steadily over the years and in 2009, the team had their first full team of 29 riders. The team enjoys the thrill of riding around the city of Selkirk, waving at the community as they pass. This group of employees, friends and family always has a great time as they support the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

The Gerdau Re-Cyclers raised almost $9,000 and placed 2nd in overall fundraising for the city of Selkirk. This amount was achieved through an in-house raffle, auction, walk and weight loss contest, head shaving challenge, and individual fundraising.

The riders are looking forward to participating again in 2010 and are already thinking of creative ways to secure their spot as the 1st place fundraising team. Thanks for putting your heart into it, Gerdau Re-Cyclers!

Nova Scotia

Community Spirit Rides High in Pictou County
When the Big Bike comes to Pictou County it is more then just a fun ride. It is a fun filled day for the whole family and is truly a spectacle of community spirit.

While the "big" kids ride the bike kids can enjoy everything from face painting to drawing with sidewalk chalk and skipping.

There truly is something for everyone and thanks to the support and generosity of local companies like Sobeys and Scotsburn, riders and spectator alike can enjoy a BBQ lunch while taking in entertainment by local artists who volunteer their time.

In the picture you see a snapshot of this event while our spirit award winners, the "ExZellerators" are marched in to the event by a local pipe band. Thanks to the planning committee, local sponsors, team captains and their teams and the many volunteers who make this event a special community tradition, year after year.

First Big Bike Ride a Success
Success College registered for Big Bike for the first time in 2009 as a team-building exercise. The instructors were enthusiastic about getting their students involved in a community event linked to a worthwhile cause such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia.

To recruit riders and create hype, they held a contest to name their Big Bike team; the winning team name was "Cycling for Success". Event day rolled around, the Success College Big Bike Captains hosted a barbeque for students and staff before their big ride that afternoon. First ride of the day, literally a blur of people wearing navy Success College T-shirts walked towards the host site. There were enough riders for two teams and they proudly rode the Big Bike around the community twice.

Sobeys Shelburne - 24 pounds of coins
The Sobeys team, which had participated the four previous years, wasn’t registered to ride the Big Bike yet and the event was only six weeks away.

This team really outdid itself, raising $3,487.22, nearly double their previous highest total. Martin Fudge, the regular top fundraiser for this team, was proud of "making history" by being the first Big Bike rider on any Shelburne team to raise over $1,000.

It was clear that all the riders had dug deep to make this such a successful event. There were jars of coins in the Sobey's store. There were baggies full of toonies, loonies, quarters, dimes and nickels. One rider brought in over $40 in rolled pennies. When it was counted and ready to go to the bank, I put it all on the bathroom scale – there was 24 pounds of coins.

Sometimes a "last-minute" team can do pretty amazing things.

Quebec

West Island Big Bike Event
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Québec, the West Island region would like to highlight the exceptional participation of EPICOR for our 2009 edition of BIG BIKE FOR HEART. This outstanding team has been an avid supporter of this event for many years and this year has surpassed all goals and expectations by raising an amount of $ 10, 066. WOW ! What great team work. None of this would have been possible without the loyal support of team captain, Mr. Donald Palumbo. EPICOR shows us that with perseverance, determination and a common goal, success can be achieved even during these hard economic times. Team members have been touched by cardiovascular disease, they thus know the good that our cause brings to research. They hold the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Quebec close to their heart. Congratulations and THANK YOU !

Our second STAR–BOMBARDIER ! They are returning supporters of this event, and for 2009 they raised $ 2,614
Team work is key! And leading BOMBARDIER for her 1st time as team captain was Mrs. Shari Mathewson. This competitive captain had one goal: raise more then 2008! And she did! Great job Bombardier!
We had many teams join us and teams that work hard to raise funds for our cause. We can only highlight a few teams, but we would like to thank them all for their support and without them the BIG BIKE would not have been the same. Thank you! See you in 2010!

Gatineau Big Bike Event
The 4th Edition of the Heart & Stroke Big Bike event was held in Gatineau on June 8, 2009. The Outaouais Region staff would like to thank the teams that have participated in this year's event and wishes to highlight the exceptional participation of one very special team.
For the second consecutive year, Curves Gréber has been impressive. Team captain, Jo-Anne Swanson, had set a very high goal of $5,000 and it is with a great deal of emotion that she made the announcement just before starting out on the bike. With pride and determination, the 29 members of the team have pedaled for a good cause, the Heart and Stroke Foundation. In exceeding by $1,400 the amount raised last year, this team maintains its reputation of the team having collected the highest amount during this event.
Thanks to all the teams. We hope to see you again next year !

Laval Big Bike Event
The Heart and Stroke Foundation, Laval/Laurentides/Lanaudière Region, would like to highlight the exceptional participation of Hydro-Mobile in the BIG BIKE FOR HEART event which was held last June 2009. For the second consecutive year, this team raised more than $8,500 ! Through creativity and enthusiasm, Team Captain Lyne Fausse led her team in the most dynamic way, putting together a number of activities to boost the donations. Our most sincere congratulations to this super team, the LLL champion team!!!

Saskatchewan

Personal story inspires riders
Saying that Deb Bosch of Paradise Hill, SK has a history of heart disease in her family is an understatement to say the least. Her father was 55 and her sister was 37 when they had fatal heart attacks. Her mother was in her 70s, another sister in her 50s and a niece was 40 when they each had triple bypass surgery. It is Deb's hope to end this tragic pattern in her family. In May 2009, Deb visited her sister in nearby Edam, SK to watch the community's Heart&Stroke Big Bike event, but could not participate as she was waiting to have quadruple bypass surgery in June at the age of 52.

Now recovered from her surgery, Deb formed the first Heart&Stroke Big Bike team in Paradise Hill and says, "I know without these surgeries we wouldn't be here today. We give thanks to the Heart and Stroke Foundation that works so hard to continue funding research and education. Riding the Big Bike is making people more aware of what can be done to prevent heart disease."

In 2010, Edam and Paradise Hill challenged each other to see which community can raise awareness and the most funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Both communities have populations of fewer than 500 people, are full of spirit, and know all too well why they give support to Heart and Stroke Foundation. Good luck teams and pleasant pedaling!!

Elrose: 16 years strong
The Elrose Lions, Lioness and Friends have been putting their hearts into their annual Big Bike Ride for 16 years. This tradition started in 1995 in conjunction with their homecoming parade, and Team Captain, Patti Mills-Smith and Co-Captain, Jim Mills have been part of it since the beginning. They continue to work hard to ensure that the Big Bike has the full 29 riders, and many of the people that still ride the bike are part of the original group that rode back in 1995!

Congratulations Elrose for 16 great years and a big thanks for your dedication, during which you have raised over $60 000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan.

Wadena has Heart
Wadena is a town with a great sense of community, and also shows a great amount of support for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. The Big Bike has been visiting this town of almost 1500 people since 1996. 'It's a community thing, people expect the Big Bike to come,' says team captains Sharon Rorquist and Wendy Fraser. Sharon and Wendy both got involved in the Big Bike as riders back in 1996. That year it was being organized by the local Ambulance, and both Wendy and Sharon wanted to help after the ambulance rescued their children from a scary car accident. They hopped on the Bike and the rest is history!

Sharon and Wendy stepped up as Team Co-Captains four years ago, so the ride is now sponsored by the Co-op where they both work. Since taking over the Captains’ seat, the Big Bike Ride in Wadena has raised over $8 000 each year!

Sharon and Wendy approach every business in Wadena, either to provide a rider or raise pledges, showing that it really is a community effort. Hats off to the town of Wadena, Sharon, and Wendy for their support and for putting their hearts into it!