Man and his dog raising money for kids’ cancer research
Eugene Hamelin had spent the entire month of July training for this.
On Aug. 1 the Norway Bay man kicked off a one-month challenge to bike as many kilometres as possible, and raise as much money as possible, all in support of cancer research.
Hamelin is participating in the nationwide Great Cycle Challenge, a fundraising initiative put on annually by the Sick Kids Foundation that challenges cyclists to tackle personal riding goals while raising money for kids’ cancer research.
According to the website, the challenge has existed since 2016, and since then riders from all 13 provinces and territories have collectively traveled over 24 million kilometres and raised over $46 million in support of research.
Throughout the month of August, riders across the country will tackle their personal bests as they try to raise as much money as they can in support of the cause.
Seventy-year-old Hamelin, who suffered a heart attack a few years ago, spent July gearing up for his challenge, doing trips of various lengths around the Pontiac and advertising his ride on social media.
On Monday, only four days into his challenge, Hamelin had already raised $5,849. According to the website, this amount places him first in the province of Quebec and 11th in the country.
Hamelin never expected such overwhelming support from the community.
“I was totally blown away.”
When he began raising money for the cause a few months ago, he set himself a modest goal of $1,000, but he has been increasing that number every so often because the donation money kept flowing in.
As Hamelin pedals across the Pontiac this month, he wants to raise as much money as possible.
“I have no idea where this is going to stop,” he said.
Hamelin has seen the effects of cancer up close, having lost his father and his sister to the disease.
Accompanying him on his rides this month will be his dog Banjo, who was a gift from his sister before she passed away from the disease five years ago.
“Banjo was born when my sister was first diagnosed with cancer, and when I was there for a visit I picked up that dog and said ‘that’s the cutest pup of the bunch,’” he said.
Hamelin took the pup home, and now Banjo will sit in a basket on the front of Hamelin’s e-bike as he completes his rides.
He said it’s meaningful to complete the rides with the dog that represents his sister’s memory.
“It’s a reminder of her,” he said. “She and I were very close.”
Hamelin’s brother Fabian is also riding this August, as he has done for the past five years from his home in Kingston, Ont..
Fabian recommended Eugene try his hand at the challenge, noting that his brother had always enjoyed biking and that it could be something they could do together to honour their family members.
The two are planning to meet on the trails for a couple of rides throughout the month, each taking turns visiting the other’s home turf.
Hamelin says it’s meaningful for them to ride together in memory of their sister and father.
Hamelin hopes the money he raises can go toward research that will help kids live normal, cancer-free lives.
“Kids should all be healthy and running around, not suffering,” he said, noting he has seen people he knows go through treatment and he doesn’t want the same to happen to kids.
“I have lots of friends that did chemo, radiation, and I have some that are still here, and I’ve got some that are not here.”
