Twenty-five local cyclists got to test their mettle against a Tour de France star Sunday, and pitched in a few bucks to the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation at the same time.
The group, which included seven-year-old Ronan Johns, won the chance to ride with two-time yellow jersey wearer Jens Voigt after raising at least $1,000 for the annual Wheel to Heal ride on April 30 (as a youth participant, Johns had to raise a minimum of $700). They left Sky Helicopters in Pitt Meadows and stopped at Cap's Westwood Cycles in Port Coquitlam, Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody and then headed back across the bridge in the 50km ride.
"It was fantastic, it was so much fun, the weather was amazing and Jens was a pleasure," said Charlene Giovanetti-King, executive director of Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation. "At the very end, part of the group decided to pick up the pace and it got a little competitive… they were doing a pretty good clip on the way back."
Giovanetti-King said registration and fundraising are on track for the eighth annual event, with just 75 more adult registrants needed to meet the goal of 350. Another 24 children and youth have registered; in all, participants have raised $88,000 towards ERHF's $125,000 goal.
This year's event offers some new routes and a new way to celebrate at the end of your journey.
"There are three bridges to challenge those who want to ride the 100-km route," said Giovanetti-King, adding the group will be the first charity ride to cross the Port Mann Bridge.
But if 100 km is a bridge too far, riders can take a shortcut at the 25 km mark for a total distance of about 60 km. Two other routes are a great fit for all levels of riders, as well as families, and will take cyclists on a 15 km or 40 km tour of the Traboulay PoCo Trail.
All rides start and end at Coquitlam's Town Centre Park, and it's the end part that's been beefed up to celebrate riders' accomplishments.
Plan to soak up the atmosphere at the Celebration Plaza, where there will be live music and entertainment, beer garden and burgers, a kids' bike decorating station and parade and a special cheering section to watch the riders come in.
Funds raised go to the greatest needs at Eagle Ridge Hospital.
• Wheel to Heal is on Saturday, April 30. For full details and to register or donate, visit www.wheeltoheal.ca.
