By Flora Dong, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Tom Alkins fondly recalls evenings by the fire, cooking with friends and exchanging stories after a long day on the road.
It was the summer of 2012, and Tom, along with 14 colleagues, were resting for the evening during their inaugural Bike 4 United Way journey, an epic made-in-the-OPS cycling fundraiser that took them from Thunder Bay to Toronto.
“I will always remember the colours of Lake Superior and the stunning northern lights,” Tom says. “It was an incredible and intense journey. Everyone supported each other and we had no injuries. It was the most amazing experience of my life.”
Together, the group cycled 140 kilometres a day, camped at night, and relied on each other over 10 days of rigorous cycling. As they rode across the province, they gained the support from family, friends, colleagues and local communities, becoming champions for United Way and an inspiration to all as they finished their journey at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
It was the beginning of many fundraising events for what would later become Bike 4 United Way, informally known as B4UW, and a legacy of dedication, community and giving back.
Giving back to our communities is an OPS-wide tradition. For more than 60 years, staff volunteers from across the province have been engaged in events and canvassing for pledges to raise funds for the United Way to support the most vulnerable population in our community. United Way has built strong partnerships to provide central food access, supportive housing, mental health assistance and employment programs.
Since 2012, B4UW has embodied this tradition, cycling over 100,000 kilometres and raising nearly $400,000. Along the way, B4UW cyclists visit local United Way offices and meet local champions that realize the benefits of donors’ generosity.
“On our way to do the impossible”
Riders of the Toronto (T2T) journey still remember the dramatic northern Ontario landscape and the camaraderie that has made the journey unforgettable, year after year.
OPSer Ian MacNeil, an original 2012 rider, says to this day, “I still stay in touch with many of the riders and we remain good friends.”
Former OPSer Simon Trevarthen, one of the founders of the 2012 T2T ride, says the idea behind the fundraiser was also to challenge others to push their personal limits.
“The first day we landed in Thunder Bay to start the ride, we knew we had done it – we made it there and we were on our way to do the impossible,” Simon says.
Join this epic journey!
In 2024, B4UW is bringing this extraordinary journey back to the OPS!
From September 6 to 15, B4UW will begin their route from the Thunder Bay City Hall, cycling along the breathtaking Lake Superior shorelines and crossing into southern Ontario from Manitoulin Island to Tobermory, finishing the tour at Queen’s Park.
The ride is self-funded and riders use their vacation days to participate. Each rider will fundraise for local United Way chapters and be a part of the planning committee. If you are interested in joining the group on this epic journey across Ontario, please check out the registration page.
To stay updated on this year’s T2T ride, check out the Bike for United Way website.