Big bike teams needed in Sharbot Lake

The Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington office of the Heart and Stroke Foundation is currently recruiting teams to participate in their annual Big Bike event taking place in Sharbot Lake on the afternoon of Saturday, May 8. Local organizations are invited to help Ride Over Heart Disease & Stroke by getting a team of 29 together to ride a 2km route in their community on Canada’s only 30 seat bike!

“This fun, team-building event is a great opportunity to increase employee morale and your organization’s visibility in the community! Each participating organization’s name will be prominently displayed on the front of the Big Bike during their head-turning ride. Teams can choose a ride time that works best for their organization, whether during or after business hours,” says Kristin Bissonette of the KFL&A office of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

The ride is 20 minutes or less in length and is open to all fitness levels ages 14 and up. Each rider is asked to raise a minimum pledge of $50 to participate although most riders collect more to earn great incentive prizes. High school students can also earn volunteer hours.

Kristin explains, “While spring may seem far off, we look to register teams now so that organizations have plenty of time to recruit riders for their team. To register, an organization just needs someone who is willing to be the team captain.” All the necessary promotional materials the captain needs to recruit the 28 other riders will be provided by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Aside from companies and service clubs, teams can also be made up of family, friends, and neighbours. What a great way to honour someone you love that has been affected by heart disease!

Every seven minutes a Canadian dies from heart disease or stroke. It remains the leading cause of death in Canada, hospitalizing more than 2100 people in KFL&A each year. Events such as Big Bike allow the Foundation to continue funding world-class heart disease and stroke research, advocacy, and health promotion that is improving the lives of all Canadians.

Thanks to donor dollars, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has been able to place more than 20 life-saving Automated External Defibrillators in public spaces throughout Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington. Your support can help save a life!

Register today to put your organization in the spotlight! Please contact Ruth Cooke at 613-279-2929 or Joyce Lewis, 613-279-3151.