The Schmidt family of Abbotsford has completed their 6,000-kilometre cross-Canada cycling trip to raise money for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB).
“Mission completed. Reached Atlantic Ocean today. We are tired but ecstatic,” the family posted Monday on their Facebook and Instagram pages for their Cycling Canada Together fundraiser.
The family set out June 8 from Abbotsford, with the goal of completing their journey on Aug. 12 in Nova Scotia and raising $60,000 for CFB to address global hunger issues.
The CFB website indicates that they have raised approximately $37,000 to date.
Dad Orlando cycled with his children Raquel, Jayden and Nathan and son-in-law Caleb. His wife Vivian and daughter-in-law Kaitlyn drove alongside with supplies and equipment.
They documented their journey along the way, including gruelling climbs up steep mountain passes such as Jackass Mountain, Rogers Pass and Kicking Horse Pass; the majestic scenery they passed through; and sightings of creatures such as bears, gophers, elk and mountain goats.
In addition to raising money for CFB, the Schmidt family also hoped to encourage Canadians to learn more about the issues around global hunger through the I care campaign.
The Schmidts first started talking about doing a family cycling trip about 10 years ago.
They chose to raise money for CFB because Orlando has had a strong interest in caring for the needs of hungry people since the 19990s, when he saw media coverage of the family in Ethiopia.
Visit foodgrainsbank.ca/cycling to make a donation or for more information.
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