Watch: Toronto to NYC for a good cause

A group of cyclists rode from Toronto to New York City this summer. The purpose of the ride was to raise money for Camp Ooch, a camp in Ontario that gives children diagnosed with cancer the opportunity to go to camp and simply have fun, make friendships and grow self-confidence. The nine founding members of R2//NYC combined to raise $90,000 for Camp Ooch.

The ride will take place again in 2019 on Sept. 18 to 22. The ride covers the approximately 800 km between the two cities split over five 155-km days of riding.

This year the ride will be open to riders through their club affiliate though each member of a team will have to be fit enough to complete the ride. The organizers are hoping to attract four to six teams, each made up of 12 to 14 riders.

The ride will cost $1,750 as a registration fee and then each participant will need to raise $5,000. The ride will include hotels along the ride, a one-night hotel in NYC, all meals, vehicle support, a finishing reception in NYC, and a return flight for riders and their bikes back to Toronto.

One of the founding members was four time Olympic medalist Adam van Koeverden

“R2//NYC was my athletic highlight of 2018. The ride was a chance for me to ‘do good’ by raising money for camp Ooch, while taking on a tough, but fun challenge with new people with similar ambitions,” he explained. “Everything from the route, planning, to the accommodations was incredibly well executed. I’ll be back in 2019 for sure!”