MINDEMOYA—Well over $5,000 has been raised by participants in the annual Tour de Meldrum bicycling event, which took place this past weekend. Participants ride by bicycle from Mindemoya to Meldrum Bay Saturday morning, enjoy dinner and stay overnight at the Meldrum Bay Inn, and then travel back to Mindemoya on Sunday, a total ride of 105 kilometres.
“We have 24 people taking part in the ride, on the road, and 27 people on hand for dinner,” Dr. Dale Scott, who originally spearheaded the event and organizes it on an annual basis, told the Recorder on Saturday, prior to the event. “We have four new riders this year, and have lots of riders from Sudbury including several from the Sudbury hospital, and a doctor from the Mindemoya hospital and her spouse taking part. We also have riders from Oshawa, Manitoulin, Espanola, Whitefish Falls and even one rider from Toronto.
“I’m confident we will meet $5,000 in funds raised,” stated Dr. Scott. The funds raised from the ride go to the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary to be used to purchase equipment.
“Businesses in Mindemoya and the area, and outside the area, are great in contributing to this fundraising event. And we get individual sponsors who donate $5, $25, and $100, which is awesome. It all adds up.”
“I’ve talked to Derek Graham (chief executive officer of the Manitoulin Health Centre). He hasn’t let me know so far where the funds will be used,” said Mr. Scott, “but the hospital auxiliary will get a request for equipment funds we raise this year will be going toward whatever piece of equipment the hospital would like to use it for.”
Mr. Scott pointed out each rider-participant also raises their own funds to take part in the ride. This year marks the 17th year the Tour de Meldrum has taken place.
