After two and a half days on the road, any sense of exhaustion for a group of cyclists that arrived in Montreal Friday afternoon was pushed aside by elation.
More than 40 people rode into the Montreal Children's Hospital, having just completed a 576-kilometre journey from Toronto raising funds for children’s cancer research.
“I'm doing it for all the people who wish they could be doing it,” said cyclist Robin Wiviott.
Gene Piccoli helped create the 401 Bike Challenge 11 years ago and says this year, he rode for Kathryn Stewart, a 12-year-old cancer survivor. She was at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children on Wednesday to inspire the riders before their journey to Montreal.
“To date, I have had 32 rounds of chemotherapy, 22 rounds of radiation, 17 surgeries, two bone marrow transplants and six months of immunotherapy here at Sick Kids,” Kathryn told the crowd.
Piccoli said her speech really moved him.
“Kathryn Stewart, an incredibly courageous little girl, she spoke at the Toronto Sick Kids and it was just unbelievable. At the end of the day, that's why we do this,” he said.
Most of the money raised will go to the Sarah Cook Fund, named for a Montrealer who beat bone cancer 15 years ago and which provides treatment and support to child cancer patients on Sarah’s floor at the Montreal Children's Hospital.
“We started with a very humble beginning of eight people and now there are over 40. Today they've raised over $300,000 which is helping us raise money for the floor and the programs that are operated on the floor,” said Norman Cook, Sarah’s father.
Many family members came out to support the cyclists.
“It really is fantastic, it's wonderful, it's a great accomplishment for all of them,” said Carolyn Stevens, whose husband rode in the event.
