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Paris to Ancaster race teams up with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation for 2016

November 19, 2015
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Ten years ago, the Around the Bay Road Race — which, since 1894, has been the oldest long-distance road races in North America, even if not a cycling race — teamed up with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation, becoming a fundraising event for the first time in its history.

While certainly a newer event, the 24th annual Paris to Ancaster race — “Canada’s cycling classic” — will be the next to follow its venerable predecessor’s athletic example.

Beginning this year, the Southern Ontario ride, one of the largest and most venerable cycling events in the country, will also be teaming up with St. Joseph’s Healthcare, making the organization its official charity partner. Making such a move was a natural choice, according to reports. Electing to team up with St. Joseph’s, said race director John Thorpe, was an easy, suitable decision to make.

“They approached us,” Thorpe told Hamilton, Ont.’s 900chml.com, “and the reason we were real excited about it was their partnership with Around the Bay road race, so they’ve done it before, they understand what’s involved and they really respect the race aspect.”

“Beginning in 2016,” reads a statement on the bike race’s official website, “St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation is proud to be the new official charity partner of the Paris to Ancaster Bike Race. Now novice and expert cyclists alike can ride to support research at St. Joe’s. Whether you choose to fundraise on your own, or as part of a corporate or friends and family team, every dollar you raise will be supporting vital healthcare research.”

“The funds you raise through this Ride for Research will help to create a healthier future for all of us.”

The goal of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation, reports say, is to raise $125 thousand for that vital research. As of right now, registration for the event is officially open, with the event itself scheduled to roll out on April 24, 2016.