The Experience

A Day In the Life of a National Rider

Hang on tight. This promises to quite the ride!

The National Rider experience will be like no other. While there are many athletic fundraising events, this one promises to be the biggest, and most ambitious charity cycling event in the world! As a National Rider, you will be part of an elite group of athletes selected from every part of this great country, all united in a single cause…to make a difference in the lives of Canadian children, and their families, living with and beyond cancer. Your sweat and determination will help make the cause of childhood cancer a national priority.

As a National Rider, you are passionate about our cause. Perhaps you are a cancer survivor, or a sibling, a parent, a family friend, or just someone who wants to inspire and empower others to unite in the fight against childhood cancer.

From the moment you qualify as a National Rider you will become part of a team dedicated to helping children win in the biggest fight of their lives. And the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride Support Team will be there to help you every step of the way!

Before the ride

  • A special team from Can-Fit-Pro will work with you to develop a customized training & nutrition plan to prepare you for your share of the 7,600 km journey.
  • The Foundation will work with you to develop an integrated fundraising program and community involvement program.
  • You will be given your own personal webpage that will link you to a private on-line forum with the other national team members to help you prepare for the challenge ahead, share your stories with supporters and collect on-line fundraising.

During the ride

Every aspect of your physical (and mental) well-being will be taken care of 24/7 - nutrition, accommodations, massage, physiotherapy, medical, transportation, etc. You will be part of a supportive and nurturing team whose sole objective is to ensure your comfort and safety, allowing you to focus 100% on the physical challenges of completing the ride and, of course, raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer. Your support team is there to ensure your success and create a memory for a lifetime.

After the Ride

  • As a leader and role model in the fight against childhood cancer, you can play a major role in developing Foundation fundraising programs and initiatives within your local community
  • You will be part of all of our Sears National Kids Cancer Ride outreach programs and events and may be called upon by media and other organizations to share your experiences.

On the road, it works like this.

Vancouver to London and Quebec City to Halifax

During these two sections of the ride, National Riders will be divided into three groups that will cycle relay style. Each Rider Group will cycle for 3 to 5 hours (90-120 km) to a predetermined rest stop where the next Rider Group will take over. During your group’s ride shifts of 3 to 5 hours, there will be rest stops and support vehicles to take care of any of your physical and mechanical needs as well as to ensure your safety and well-being. When you have completed your ride shift, you will then get on to a luxury bus to be shuttled forward to a designated spot of about 6-8 cycling hours ahead (or 180-240 km) continuing in relay fashion to the next major city. During these sections of the ride, there will be overnight accommodations provided in single rooms at universities in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, London, Quebec City and Halifax. You will start each day with a media kick-off at an oncology centre, ride to a local Sears centre or store, there to be joined by hundreds of other Canadians who will ride with you for part of the route.

London to Quebec City

During this section of the ride you will begin each day at a media kickoff starting at an oncology centre, and then ride to a local Sears centre or store. There you will be joined by hundreds, or perhaps thousands of other Canadian cyclists who will ride with you for part of the route, and sometimes for the entire day. These daily routes will have dedicated rest stops at approximately every 50 kms. You will end your day with a nutritious meal and overnight accommodations in single rooms at universities in London, Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City.

Along the way there will be mini festivals and celebrations on certain evenings; as well, each and every 100 kms of the ride will be dedicated to one of the 10,000 Canadian children currently living with cancer

Route Summary

Although the route and dates are subject to change, the current plan is as follows

NON-STOP SECTIONS

• June 2, 2008 – Vancouver start to Edmonton
• June 4, 2008 – arrive Edmonton with brief stop then onto Calgary for an overnight stay June 4th
• June 5, 2008 – depart from Calgary to Winnipeg for an overnight stay June 7th
• June 8, 2008 – depart from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay for an overnight stay June 9th
• June 10, 2008 – depart from Thunder Bay to London (via Chi-Cheemaun & Tobermony) for an overnight stay June 12th

DAY RIDE SECTIONS

• June 13, 2008 – depart from London for overnight in Toronto June 13
• June 14, 2008 – depart from Toronto for overnight in Kingston June 14
• June 15, 2008 – depart from Kingston for overnight in Ottawa June 15
• June 16, 2008 – depart from Ottawa for overnight in Montreal June 16
• June 17, 2008 – depart from Montreal for overnight in Quebec City June 17

NON-STOP SECTION

• June 18, 2008 – depart from Quebec City for overnight in Truro June 19

DAY RIDE SECTION

• June 20 – depart from Truro for 100 km ride to Halifax

We welcome you to a journey of life that will touch the hearts and minds of Canadians from coast to coast.