Ride Through the Rockies raises $125,000 for Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta
At the end of September, the second annual Ride Through the Rockies took a group of 26 riders on a 375-km circuit, starting in Cochrane, Alberta, passing through Canmore, Lake Louise, Kananaskis, and finally back to the starting point.
At the end of September, the second annual Ride Through the Rockies took a group of 26 riders on a 375-km circuit, starting in Cochrane, Alberta, passing through Canmore, Lake Louise, Kananaskis, and finally back to the starting point. And like other notable charity rides in western Canada recently, it was all for a good cause.
The ride, starting on September 24 and ending on the 27th — a trek the Calgary Sun described as a “round-trip journey” — raised invaluable funds for Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta.
As with other charity rides, participating cyclists, after registering, each pledged to raise a minimum sum of $5,000 for the organization. For many of those riders, that amount was comfortably surpassed and then some, with every dollar going to support Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta’s initiatives. Described by the Calgary Sun as a “non-profit organization working toward a world where everyone has a safe, affordable place to live,” the Alberta-based group promotes affordable homeownership as a way of easing poverty.
With the 2015 ride complete, funds raised by the cyclists will go towards the construction of 24 affordable homes in the community of Pineridge, Alberta.
Day 3 of the Ride Through the Rockies complete in support of #habitatforhumanity https://t.co/rVd3ARZvhM
— ChadKanovskyYYC (@chadkanovsky) September 26, 2015
The ride rolled out at 10 in the morning on September 24, taking the squad of 26 cyclists on the first leg of their four-day trek through the stunning, unspeakably beautiful mountain scenery of the Rockies. From the outset, though, participants knew that the physical and mental challenge of the ride was balanced by the importance of its mission. “These cyclists have a challenging — but very exciting — four days ahead of them,” said Gerrard Oishi, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta, as the ride got underway. “Their efforts are playing a significant role in our ability to provide affordable housing for families here in Calgary and we’re grateful for the opportunity to be involved.”
A spirit of big-hearted adventurousness was described as central to the trek by other authorities, too.
“Ride through the Rockies,” said Ken Crockett, whose company, Star Building Materials, sponsored the ride, “is both a physically and mentally challenging ride for every cycling enthusiast. It brings together a group of people who not only have a passion for cycling, but love the camaraderie that this event offers and share in the purpose that Habitat for Humanity exemplifies.”
When the riders rolled back into Cochrane, Alberta on September 27, it had raise $125,000 for the cause, reports say.
