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Three Abbotsford cyclists raise money for SickKids hospital

Great Cycle Challenge in August supports Toronto children’s centre
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Bob and Heather Spencer of Abbotsford are participating in the Great Cycle Challenge in August to raise money for The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. (Submitted photo)

Three Abbotsford residents are participating in a cycling event in August to raise money for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto.

Bob and Heather Spencer and Nancy Croteau are each participating in the Great Cycle Challenge.

Founded in 2016, the challenge has grown to become one of the biggest cycling events in the country.

In just five years, more than 100,000 riders from all provinces and territories have ridden 15.4 million kilometres, raising more than $21.7 million for research, care and the development of better treatments and cures for childhood cancer.

This year, SickKids Foundation hopes more than 30,000 riders will take part in support of kids’ cancer.

Nancy Croteau
This is Croteau’s second time participating in the Great Cycle Challenge. She previously rode 756 kilometres and raised $757.

This year, she is planning to ride 1,000 kilometres and raise $1,000.

This is Heather Spencer’s third time participating. In her prior two times, she rode 408 kilometres and raised $2,744. This year, she is aiming to cycle 200 kilometres and raised $1,000.

She said she participates in the challenge because when she was eight years old, she lost her three-year-old sister, Barbie, to cancer.

“I don’t want other families to go through what we went through,” Heather said.

Her husband, Bob, is participating for the fourth time. He previously rode a total of 665 kilometres and raised $3,712. He, too, is planning to cycle 200 kilometres and raise $1,000 this time.

The challenge invites cyclists to set their own personal riding goals throughout August.

To support a specific cyclist, visit greatcyclechallenge.ca and click on “donate” to search for a rider.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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