A man from Chatham-Kent is getting ready to hop on his bicycle and pedal 1,000 kilometres in an effort to raise money for The Hospital for Sick Children.
Mike (Mikey) Poulin hopes to raise $2,500 during the month of August by participating in the Great Cycle Challenge Canada.
The national initiative started in 2016 as a way to encourage cyclists across the country to set and meet personal riding goals, while also raising money for children who benefit from the SickKids Foundation.
Officials with the SickKids Foundation are hoping more than 30,000 riders will take part in this year's cycling challenge to support children with cancer.
"Cancer is the largest killer of Canadian children from disease and over 1,400 Canadian children are diagnosed with cancer every year," said Jamie Lamont, director of special events at SickKids Foundation. "Thanks to riders like Mikey, we’re fueling groundbreaking research to save lives and give kids the brighter future they deserve."
This will be Poulin's third time participating in the cycling challenge.
"During those years, I rode 1,865 kilometres and raised $3,861," he said in a statement. "This year, I am aiming to raise $2,500 and ride 1,000 kilometres."
According to Poulin's personal story, posted on the Great Cycle Challenge Canada website, his desire to support SickKids stems from the short battle his father, Jean Roch Poulin, faced.
"Dad lost his battle with an aggressive T-Cell Lymphoma, 6-7 weeks after diagnosis, on May 2, 2018," read Poulin's post. "During that time, I decided to really get involved with the Great Cycle Challenge and begin to do my small part to help fight for young people and their families, when faced with the challenges of kid's cancer."
Poulin is raising money through the Great Cycle Challenge Canada website as a member of the "FAMILLE POULIN FAMILY!" team along with Lauren Poulin.
Great Cycle Challenge Canada has attracted thousands of riders from provinces and territories across the country. In just three years, over 63,000 cyclists have ridden 10.3 million kilometres and have raised more than $12.4 million for research, care, and the development of better treatments and cures for childhood cancer.