RIDE FOR KAREN organizers Kirk and Kris Tobias started the event in memory of their mom, who lost her battle with breast cancer. (Courtesy Paradigm Public Relations)
VAUGHAN - To Kirk Tobias and his older brother Kris, there are no six degrees of separation when it comes to cancer.
“You’d be hard-pressed not to find one degree of separation with somebody that has not been touched by the disease,” 37-year-old Kirk said.
All the more reason to raise money to fight cancer through their cycling charity, Ride For Karen, named for their mother who lost her five-year battle with breast cancer.
The duo raised $925,000 in the charity trek’s first seven years. From a humble beginning of 20 bike riders raising $25,000, they are now pulling in 300–400 riders and more than $250,000 annually.
And it all starts in Vaughan.
“In the early days, it simply started because logistically Vaughan was a good start point: it was relatively flat,” Kirk said, adding Scotiabank branches across York Region have given them “tremendous support from their branch network in the Vaughan area.”
There are four options for cyclists wanting to raise funds for cancer awareness: a 160-kilometre journey that loops into Kleinburg and Mississauga before heading back to Vaughan, a 100-kilometre ride for recreational cyclists, a 25-kilometre venture and a fun ride for kids.
The event appeals to everyone from the Lance Armstrongs to the casual rider, Kirk said.
“I think we find that like-minded individuals want to use their bike as a method for fundraising,” he said. “It’s really come alive for us.
“People can really identify with it, and people like the idea of sacrificing and going out there to work hard to make a difference in somebody else’s life.”
Money raised goes to cancer care and support facilities, and is also used to send kids battling the disease to camp, something the pairs’ mother, a trained nurse, would be happy about.
“It enables me to take a horrible event and each year help out hundreds and hundreds of families as somebody who puts on the event,” Kirk said.
“For my brother Kris and I, we accomplish two great things: keep her name alive (and) help a lot of people, and that’s something I know she would very much support.”
This year’s Ride for Karen is set for Sept. 13 with registration at 7:30 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc CHS. Visit www.rideforkaren.com for more information.
Bambolino Summer Camp Children aged 2.5 years to 12 years can join us this summer from June 28 - August 27 for fun, learning and adventure at one of our 4 camps
