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Vélocity Ride: Meet the inspirational teams members behind this year’s event

June 19, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Vélocity 2025 Ride for Seniors, run by Caledon Community Services (CCS), set out into the community on Saturday.

More than 176 riders, 56 volunteers, and numerous supporters celebrated the occasion this weekend.

After riders took off for their routes from 8 to 10:30 a.m., they all met back at Caledon East Park to celebrate their rides and the milestones they had achieved.

At the time of this article, Vélocity raised almost $53,000 of its $70,000 fundraising goal.

Every dollar raised goes towards helping Caledon seniors stay healthy, active, and independent.

CCS CEO Geraldine Aguiar, spoke on this year’s theme for the ride.

“CCS has been a champion for the community. But we couldn’t be a champion for the community without each and every one of you. All of us here play a part. And today, our theme is Together We Can, and together is exactly how we’re going to make a difference in this community,” said Aguiar.

Awards and prizes were presented to recognize individual members’ and teams’ hard work and effort.

Team Silcotech was the largest team this year and one of the top sponsors.

Isolde Boettger and Michael Maloney announced during the celebrations that Silcotech will no longer be ONE of the top sponsors next year, but THE top sponsor of the 2026 Vélocity ride.

Boettger also shared that this year, Silcotech purchased all of the bikes for their team so that everyone could take part.

They will go on to store the bikes so that people can borrow them, go out on their own, and have them available for next year’s event.

As the event fell on Father’s Day weekend, Vélocity honoured all the family teams participating.

Mortons in Motion is a family team that raised almost $3,000.

Gordon, Elizabeth, and David Morton have participated in the Vélocity ride for the past few years. They all biked the trail route together, enjoying the beautiful weather and the time well spent together.

David, Gordon and Elizabeth’s son, flies down to take part in the ride with them, as well.

He shared that it’s also the perfect time to spend some time with his dad for Father’s Day.

They have been cycling together for about 12 years now.

“I see the important work that CCS does for seniors so it’s a way to support what I think is important and do what we all like doing,” shared Gordon Morton.

To no surprise, one man who held the most titles this year was Ted Webb from Ted’s Terra Cotta Trailblazers.

Webb has carried the title for multiple years and has no plans to stop.

“If you want to live to my age, keep cycling, “ Webb said to the Vélocity crowd.

Webb shared that he’s been cycling as long as he can remember; growing up in England, it was often the way to get around.

But, like a trail route, Webb faced many twists, turns, and rough terrain to get to where he is today.

In 1939, Webb was part of the mass evacuation out of London, where Germany was invading.

He moved around to multiple different places and ended up in the forces.

Here, he met Canadian soldiers, and Webb said they were friendly, fun-loving people.

“And I said, look, you know what? If everybody’s like that in Canada, I’m going. Two years later, I immigrated and now I’m here. No regrets.”

Now, Webb lives in Terra Cotta, surrounded by his family and neighbours, and now his teammates for Vélocity.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t cycling. I wouldn’t have met my good friends that I’ve had for years through cycling,” shared Webb.

At 92 years old, he isn’t slowing down; he plans to cycle 5,000 km this year.

“That’s what I’m trying to say about cycling. It’s goals,” said Webb. “I’ve got goals to achieve.”

And Vélocity will continue trying to reach its goal of $70,000 through their website until June 30.

Donations can be made at caledoncommunityservices.akaraisin.com/ui/ccsvelocity2025/pledge/sponsor/start.

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