GORE BAY—The fourth annual Bay to Bay Bicycle Ride fundraiser for Manitoulin Island food banks and other causes is expected to grow in ridership again this year.
“This year marks our fourth annual Bay to Bay Ride, and I think we have raised about $50,000 over the years, and every dollar has gone back into the community,” stated Peter Carter, a member of the Gore Bay Rotary Club. He pointed out the main benefactor of the funds raised are food banks and food cupboards on Manitoulin Island. Along with food sustainability, Gwekwaadziwin Miikan Youth Mental Health and Addiction program has also benefitted.
“This year we are splitting the funds raised from the ride toward, again, food sustainability on the Island and to the Gore Bay Fire Department toward equipment such as helmets, boots and firefighter suits. It costs $3,300 per firefighter to get them properly equipped,” said Mr. Carter.
Mr. Carter said one of the biggest reasons the annual ride is a huge success is the sponsorship the Rotary receives each year, which includes support from Manitoulin Transport, RE/MAX The Island Real Estate Brokerage, Pat Noble Lumber, Split Rail Brewing Company and Breakaway Sports.
“We are fortunate the ride continues to grow each year in terms of participants,” said Mr. Carter. “In the first year of the ride 25 people took part, while last year drew a total of 75 riders. This year we are hoping to get 100 riders to take part.”
There are three cycling routes to choose from. The century ride, 200 kilometres in length, takes riders from Gore Bay to Ice Lake, Spring Bay, Poplar, Barrie Island, Evansville, Burpee and Mills, and back to Gore Bay. There is a half century 100-kilometre loop ride and a family fun/children’s ride of six kilometres from Gore Bay to the Janet Head Lighthouse and back.
“We continue to get lots of off-Island riders who are excited to come to Manitoulin Island,” continued Mr. Carter. “All the repeat riders like the fundraising cause, the lunches that are provided and the many hydration stations set up along the ride.”
“We will have a bunch of riders from the Rotary Club in Sudbury, and there will probably be another 12 riders from other parts of Ontario taking part. This will include the Sessions Clowns who will be front and centre in the main ride. They are pretty dedicated riders.”
The Bay to Bay Ride will take place on Saturday, August 12, with the century ride to begin between 7 and 7:30 am, and the 100 kilometre ride to begin shortly thereafter.
“This year, when the riders have completed their ride at Split Rail Brewing, participants will have an opportunity to mingle with fellow riders and answer any questions pertaining to bicycling on Manitoulin from members of the general public,” continued Mr. Carter.
Mr. Carter added, “we couldn’t do all of this without the tremendous support we receive from the community. We look forward to continuing to grow the ride, and we will have something special in place for the fifth annual ride in 2024.”
