Name: Catherine Bancroft
Age: 37
Live In: Toronto, Ontario
Hometown: London, Ontario
Biggest physical accomplishment(s) to date: Hiking the Annapurna Circuit in 2001 in Nepal and Riding from Toronto to Montreal with the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation for 4 years.
Going National
After cycling from Toronto to Montreal for 4 years, I truly got the cycling bug. I fell in love with seeing parts of Ontario and Quebec that I wouldn't have seen in a car, feeling the air against my skin, bonding with an amazing community over the strengths and challenges of riding long distances.
Over time cycling became my “active meditation”, helping me to breakthrough mental obstacles, and helping me to reach new heights, which brought new things into my life after each ride.
I started to have dreams of the “Swoosh” that I heard when riding, and every time I got onto my bike I felt relaxed and at peace.
After two years of seeing Ontario and Quebec, I started to dream of seeing the whole country. Last year, I became motivated by my fellow rider Robert Windrum who had done the Sears National Ride, and realized that I could see my country by bike, and combine it with my passion for fundraising events.
Last year I completed the Conquer Cancer Ride along with a Tri Adventure with the Stephen Lewis Foundation so all of my riding experience has been connected to fundraisers. What drew me to this event was the death of my cousin when she was 15 and I was 12 and at that age I couldn't do much to alleviate the suffering that our whole family felt. These 25 years later, I felt a passion to make a difference for other families. I was particularly impressed that 100% of the donations go directly to kids with cancer across the nation.
I'm excited to be apart of an extraordinary community of highly motivated people that want to make a difference; to see all the provinces on my bike; and to experience the profound impact of our fundraising efforts in the communities along the way.
"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is out light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world and there is nothing enlightened about shrinking, so that others won't feel insecure around you. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others. " Marianne Williamson
