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Cyclists participate in Ride to Conquer Cancer training ride at Bolton Toyota

May 30, 2019   ·   0 Comments

Written By JOSHUA SANTOS

About 300 cyclists gathered together for a training ride at Bolton Toyota on Sunday, May 26.

The event was held as the lead up to the 12th Annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer on June 10 to 11.

Participants in the classic event in June will cycle from Toronto to Niagara Falls in those two days.

Riders at Bolton Toyota participated in either a 25, 50- or 75-kilometre voyage throughout the community to get them warmed up for the main event.

“All these fine folks are here to do a practice, get themselves going for the season, and two weeks after they’ll be doing 230 kilometres,” said Muzammil Ali, general manager of Bolton Toyota.

The Dilawri Group of Companies, which owns Bolton Toyota, are sponsors of the Ride to Conquer Cancer in Toronto.

Since 2008, the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer has raised over $194 million for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and is Canada’s largest cycling fundraiser, according to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.  

The Ride to Conquer Cancer series operates in four provinces and is Canada’s largest peer-to-peer fundraising event.

Funds raised through the Ride to Conquer Cancer support personalized cancer medicine research, treatment advances, education and new standards of care at The Princess Margaret, across Ontario and around the world.

“We underestimate how much support the victims that fall to cancer actually need and how we think they might have access to every facility, but that’s not true,” said Ali. “They need our support and they don’t have the kinds of facilities and research that they need and events like this are just great. I think we need more of them and a better turnout. Although the turnout is great and fantastic, the more the merrier.”

Ali had the chance to speak to riders who drove to the event from many places in the Greater Toronto Area, and from afar. 

“They absolutely love coming up to Bolton because it’s such a nice ride over here,” said Ali. “There’s beautiful, scenic areas and they’ve always had a lot of fun coming up here.”

Staff at the dealership provided a complimentary breakfast, lunch and a bouncy castle for children to enjoy. 

“Their kids can jump and they can eat some hot dogs and hamburgers from the barbecue,” said Ali.

Mayor Allan Thompson was in attendance, speaking to the crowd as they prepared to embark on their journey around town.

“To me, Princess Margaret is an amazing hospital,” said Mayor Thompson. “I have to tell you, my family, uses it and if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have, who I have today. Thank you for what you do and thank you for what you’re doing for the ride.”

Thompson also thanked Ali and the Dilwari Group at Bolton Toyota for hosting the event in Caledon. 

Ali reflected on Thompson’s continuous support to, not only Bolton Toyota’s events, but too many other community programs held throughout the year.

“I’m speechless when it comes to the Mayor’s support,” said Ali. “When I mentioned to him that the Ride to Conquer Cancer practice was happening again, it did not even take him a split second to say I would love to be a part of it.”

Ali encourages people to support the Ride to Conquer Cancer, any way they can, whether it’s participating in the event or by just being at the main event. 

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