Campbell River Grandmothers to Grandmothers will be on hand on Sept. 9, at 9 a.m. at Rotary Park to welcome and cheer on close to 25 grandmothers as they bicycle through our community en route from Campbell River to Victoria, and they invite the entire community to join them.
The four previous Cycle Tours have raised a combined total of close to $150,000. All money raised is donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, which funds grassroots initiatives and community-level programs that support African grandmothers. This year’s Cycle Tour, starting on Sept. 9, will cover approximately 280 kilometres and pass through Campbell River, Courtenay, Qualicum Bay, Parksville, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Cowichan Bay, and Brentwood Bay. It will end in Victoria on National Grandparent’s Day, Sunday September 11. A welcoming party is scheduled to take place at St. John the Divine Church, 1611 Quadra St. Victoria, at 3:00 p.m.
“This will be the third year that the C.R. Grandmothers to Grandmothers have provided the cyclists with a delicious potluck the evening before they begin their ride. Our group donates all the money riders pay for their dinner to the Stephen Lewis foundation,” Said Brenda Harrison. “Because Campbell River is the starting point of the ride there is a certain level of excitement and anticipation. This year, the potluck will be particularly special because two of our members are joining the cyclists on this challenging adventure,”
While several of the cyclists participating in this event live in Victoria, others come from communities up and down the island, including Campbell River’s Katherine Jorgenson and Linda Carlson.
While some riders have completed the tour a number of times, each year they are joined by new and enthusiastic participants.
“I am excited to be joining the Victoria Grandmothers on the cycle from Campbell River to Victoria,” said Carlson.