GORE BAY—Gore Bay, the small town with big hearts!
These were the words that Cori-Lynn Lemaitre, area coordinator for the Sudbury and Manitoulin Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF), used to describe the tremendous support the town has provided to the HSF over the year with the Big Bike event and others.
“All of you are amazing,” stated Ms. Lemaitre, prior to the Big Bike run taking place last Friday afternoon, one of the events that helped kick start the Gore Bay Harbour Days weekend celebrations. “Gore Bay is the little town with the big heart,” she stated.
“Thank you to everyone who supports our mission and local campaigns,” said Ms. Lemaitre. “Together we are making a difference in the lives of our own loved ones.”
“Gore Bay is a wonderful and generous community of 900 residents which has supported (HSF) for more than 23 years… raising more than $119,291.00.”
Ms. Lemaitre provided statistics on the support the town residents have provided for the Big Bike ride. From 2014-2016 the Gore Bay community Big Bike teams have raised a total of $5,407, while the Team Manitoulin Transport bike has raised $13,776 in the first two years of its participation in the big bike ride.
“In a short three years the Big Bike event has been held in your community $19,183 has been raised toward lifesaving research,” said Ms. Lemaitre. And not to be out done, in 24 years of taking part in the Jump Rope for Heart event, Charles C. McLean Public School has fundraised more than $94,681. “The students are amazing.”
As well with door to door canvassing since 2012, canvassers who continue to support the HSF campaign during the coldest month of the year have raised $5,427.
“What all of you are doing is raising money for research,” Ms. Lemaitre told participants. “One in three people in Canada develop heart disease problems each year.” A total of 33,000 people in Canada lost their fight to heart disease last year.” She further pointed out, “heart disease is the number one health killer of women every year.”
“So, you are all here for your loved ones and family,” stated Ms. Lemaitre.
For this year’s Big Bike event, the Town of Gore Bay Big Bike team raised a total of $1,317 while the Manitoulin Transport team raised a phenomenal $10,745.
Maureen Dumond, captain of Team Manitoulin Transport, noted that “what you did is phenomenal. We raised $8,101.00 last year and this year our team came through again, raising over $10,000. I’m so proud of all of you. Thanks again and I hope our team can go for over $11,000 next year.”
Ms. Lemaitre noted that overall the top individual fundraiser this year was Karen McDougall, who raised $820, with Maureen Dumond raising $800 and Lori Howard raising $625 Prizes for the top three fundraisers and several other prizes were handed out after each team took a ride in the downtown area in the Big Bike.
