Bianca Hayes hospitalized after collision during Guinness record attempt
Trans-Canada ride ends abruptly
Photo by:
David and Justina Tam of The Coconut Creative
Bianca Hayes’s attempt to break the Guinness world record for crossing Canada on a bicycle has sadly ended after a collision with a motorcyclist, just north of Quebec city. Thankfully nothing was broken, but she was taken to the hospital to be monitored for concussion as there was damage to her helmet.
Unfortunate ending to trip
On Sunday, her team posted on Instagram. “Earlier today, Bianca was involved in an accident with a motorcycle. She’s ok, but she did sustain a concussion and ankle injury. Unfortunately, the Trans-Canada ride ends here,” the statement reads. “There was always a great risk involved with a challenge of this magnitude. While it’s devastating that the world record won’t be set, we’re not going to stop chasing the greater goal: to raise awareness for ovarian cancer. Bianca is resting and recovering, and we know she’ll bounce back stronger than ever.”
Hayes was on the thirteenth day of her trip. She set off from Vancouver on June 13 to attempt and break the record. That meant doing 5,900 km from Vancouver to Halifax in fifteen days, riding twenty hours and 400 km a day.
Her goal is to raise $1 million for ovarian cancer. Hayes grew up in Vancouver, with her sister Katrina. Sadly, Katrina would die from ovarian cancer in 2018. After the death of her sister, she wanted to become the fastest woman to cycle across Canada. She would also raise over $40,000 for ovarian cancer research. Although Hayes did not end up breaking record by making it across the country in nineteen days, she would be the fastest woman who biked across the country. It was considered unofficial because Guinness World Records would only put the title into their book if it was in fifteen days.
This year’s attempt was going well, although at one point her legs were so swollen from the effort she had to swap her cycling shoes for a pair of Converses and use flat pedals. But she persisted and continued her ride.
As of Monday, Bianca has raised $88,000. If you’d like to donate, you can do so through Ovariancanada.org
