MINDEMOYA—Mindemoya cycling enthusiast Steve Redmond is taking part in the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Anniversary Ride in celebration of the 115th anniversary of the provincial policing group.
“The OPP Anniversary ride is a 12-day, 2,100-kilometre cycle across Ontario to raise money for Boots on the Ground, an anonymous peer support for first responders, by first responders,” explained Mr. Redmond, who recently retired from the Manitoulin detachment of the OPP. He explained members of the OPP Cycling Team will begin the ride on July 23 in Kenora and ending on August 3 in Hawkesbury. The team, led by OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique, will travel the route stopping at each OPP detachment.
“The OPP is celebrating its 115th anniversary this year in Ontario,” said Mr. Redmond. “There will be eight of us taking part in this ride. We will begin at 5 am next Tuesday (July 23). For our team the goal is to raise $5,000 on the ride.”
“On each day of the ride we will travel on average between 124-200 kilometres. Our longest ride will be 243 kilometres, from Greenstone at Hearst to Geraldton,” said Mr. Redmond.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the ride,” said Mr. Redmond. “In some of the places we will be travelling there are no places to get something to eat, so we have to bring dry goods.”
“The main thing is what we raise on the ride will be going toward a great cause,” added Mr. Redmond.
Boots on the Ground is an anonymous helpline providing confidential and anonymous peer support to first responders across the province, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a charitable organization completely run and staffed by volunteers.
