Ted Webb of Terra Cotta is a trailblazing fundraiser for Velocity Ride

Webb is a leader in the local cycling scene

By Zachary Roman

Ted Webb is known as a friendly and welcoming leader in the Terra Cotta cycling scene.

He's also known for leading a group of dedicated community members in fundraising for Caledon seniors.

His team, Ted's Terra Cotta Trailblazers, is currently the top fundraising team for Caledon Community Services' (CCS) upcoming Velocity Ride in Support of Caledon Seniors.

Anne Marie Hayes has been riding with Ted's team for three years and recently became a member of the CCS Board of Directors in March.

She explained she co-named the Trailblazers.

“[Ted's] our neighbour and he's the one actually that got me interested in riding,” said Hayes. “He taught me how to ride, he taught me how to ride safely. He has taught lots of people how to ride safely, and to be interested. That was the genesis of the name.” 

When she was learning how to ride, Hayes would go out on group rides with Webb and friends. She said they'd always take turns leading the pack and coaching from the back of the pack, with her in the middle. When a car would pass, they'd go into a formation to keep her safe. 

“I get to see parts of Caledon that you don't see, and you see it differently when you're on a bike than when you're in a car,” said Hayes. “Somebody was leading, so I didn't have to be thinking about where to turn in the route and all that… I have a busy week and then I just go out and I just enjoy Caledon.”

Hayes said each member of the Trailblazers reaches out to people to fundraise, but like to tell people to sponsor Webb. 

“We all kind of like to help get his fundraising up there. He's just such an icon, right? And he's such an inspiration and we're just grateful to him,” said Hayes. As of June 29, the Trailblazers had raised $4,087 for Caledon seniors, $3,283 of that coming from those sponsoring Webb. It's more than worth noting that Webb himself made a sizable $2,500 donation to CCS this year.

Working in health care for her entire life, and in home care for a large part of that, Hayes said seniors are close to her heart. She moved to Caledon 10 years ago and once she discovered CCS, fundraising for the organization became close to her heart too.

“Helping seniors age in place is just core to how we spent a lot of our professional lives,” said Hayes of her and her husband, who worked in health care before retiring. Hayes' husband has been riding with Ted's team for four years. “We just really, truly believe that the best thing is to give our seniors the option, the choice to age in place. They do better when they have autonomy, when they can stay somewhere familiar, when they have a network… it's important that we do what we can as a community to help them age in place.”

Webb doesn't use computers much, so Hayes leads the way when it comes to online presence and communications. But when it comes to the day of the Velocity ride, July 1, Webb takes the lead and brings his team on a route he knows will be safe and fun. This year, Hayes thinks they might do the 50-kilometre road route, with a smaller group doing the 25-kilometre trail route.

The Velocity event is a great time to meet new bike-riding friends, said Hayes, and the biking community is very friendly. Cyclists wave to each other, stop to help if they see each other in need, and are polite to each other, said Hayes.

Hayes said the COVID-19 pandemic has put such a burden on the health care system and non-profits and that it is more important than ever for people and communities to do what they can to help out. She explained in times of crisis, people often can't donate like normal to non-profits like CCS, while the crisis requires non-profits to expand their services.

“CCS I think has done a really nice job of doing everything they can to make sure that our seniors weren't isolated, that they had connection during the pandemic,” said Hayes, adding how important agencies like CCS are in today's day and age.

To learn more about the Velocity Ride in Support of Caledon Seniors, register for the event, volunteer at it, or donate to a team, visit caledoncommunityservices.akaraisin.com/ui/Velocity2022.