Attending summer camp is a memorable and quintessential experience for a child under any circumstances but especially with a cancer diagnosis.
Jeff Taylor of Lake of Bays and Dave Rigby of Novar, along with a dedicated group of other cyclists across Ontario, are striving to provide more children with this opportunity.
From September 14 to 18, Taylor and Rigby will be participating in R2//NYC, a five-day bike ride from Toronto to New York City to raise funds for Campfire Circle, a privately funded charity that sends children and their families affected by childhood cancer to camp.
Approximately 45 cyclists, split into five teams, will be participating in the ride and have been fundraising for the cause. The cyclists will average 160 km per day, totaling 850 km, with 7500 m of climbing.
“I’m doing it because I think it’s a great cause and I love cycling and being able to cycle and raise money at the same time,” Taylor says. “To do something epic like this just makes it all fit for me.”
Campfire Circle was founded in 1983 and consists of two locations: Campfire Circle Muskoka – formally Camp Ooch – located in Rosseau, ON and Campfire Circle Rainbow Lake – formally Camp Trillium – located in Waterford, ON. Camp accommodations are completely free for campers and all funds are acquired through fundraisers and donations.
Campfire Circle provides a classic and fun-filled camp experience with a variety of activities, whilst providing any required treatments to campers during their stay.
“Campfire Circle is very unique because it gives them the camp experience that they otherwise never would have had,” Taylor says.
Taylor first learned of the R2//NYC ride for Campfire Circle in 2019 while he was participating in an 18-day, 3000 km fundraising ride for the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation. He signed up for R2//NYC in 2020, but it was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the ride was announced as a go for 2022, Taylor invited Rigby to join, as the two had been riding together for several years and Rigby himself has participated in bike ride fundraisers for cancer.
“Jeff was talking about this back in the spring [of 2022]so I did a little bit of research on the camp and tried to get an idea of what it was all about,” Rigby says. “I liked what I saw, I thought it was a great cause, and I also thought it would be a good challenge as well. It’s an epic ride that will challenge us but what will keep us going is that we’re doing this for the kids; we’re giving them a chance to be kids while they’re battling their cancer.”
Taylor and Rigby are avid cyclists, with thirteen and fifteen years of experience respectively, and have been training for the R2//NYC ride for the past two months. They train three to five times a week and each ride is typically 60 to 100 km.
Despite the inevitable nerves, Taylor and Rigby are feeling prepared and ready to face whatever obstacles the ride will bring.
“I’m excited about it but a little apprehensive at the same time because it is a long distance,” Rigby says, “but I feel good because it is a great cause and I’m looking forward to it.”
Taylor shares this sentiment of excitement, despite knowing the challenges that lie ahead.
“I’m confident, having done a long ride like this before, but this one is a little different [due to the climbing],” Taylor says. “This one is going to be a challenge and we’re working hard to get ready for it. We know we’re in for a battle, but we have to talk about the fact that we only have to suffer for five days and some of these kids never know when their suffering will end, so that really motivates us to make it through each day.”
Taylor and Rigby have each of their fundraising goals set at $10,000 and have raised $8700 and $8800 respectively so far. They highly encourage donations for this worthy cause.
To donate, you can find Taylor’s page here and Rigby’s page here.
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Dave Gibson says
Have a great ride for a great cause Jeff and Dave!
Eva Black says
Know that we are cheering for you all the way!! You boys are making us riders in Huntsville very proud.