Stirling resident Dave Laycock is taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge Canada for the second year in a row (Photo courtesy Dave Laycock)

By Justin Goulet

71-year-old Stirling man participating in cycle challenge to fight kids’ cancer

Aug 2, 2021 | 8:00 AM

STIRLING, AB – This month, Dave Laycock is hopping on his bike to combat kids’ cancer.

The 71-year-old from Stirling is taking part in the sixth annual Great Cycle Challenge Canada, an initiative that has Canadians cycle to raise awareness and funds for the SickKids Foundation and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Funds collected assist in research and work being done to help beat and treat childhood cancer.

The challenge lasts throughout August. Participants set a personal ride target to pedal, as well as a fundraising goal, and log their progress during the month via their challenge page. All ages and fitness levels can get involved and everyone in Canada is invited to take part. More details on how the challenge works are available here.

Laycock’s goal is to ride 1,000 kilometres and raise $500. This is the second year he’s taking part.

He told Lethbridge News Now, “I was saddened to think that so many of them are really struggling with cancer, but then I found out that I can do something about it, so I did.”

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Last year, Laycock rode 348 kilometres and was able to raise $530 for SickKids.

“Compared with some of the other people who did ride, that was a tiny, tiny amount – there were some people in the tens of thousands, but I did my part and I want to continue doing it as long as I can.”

So far, Laycock has raised about $20. He noted anyone who wants to donate can do so online through his rider page here.

“Any amount of money is okay. You know, 50 cents, that’s great [laughs]. If enough people pay 50 cents, then it’d be great for the kids.”

The 71-year-old began his training for this summer’s cycle back in May, traveling around the community about 40 kilometres per trip. He was able to pedal for 100 kilometres a number of occasions and expects that to be the same this month.

“It’ll depend on how I feel on the day as to how far I go, but I anticipate my minimum will be about 40 kilometres and occasionally 100.”

IMPACT

Laycock said the organizers of the Great Cycle Challenge Canada help motivate riders to keep them peddling forward.

He remarked that, “the people at GCC are really good because they send actual images and messages from some of the kids who are suffering from cancer, and it really personalizes it and they get to know a little bit about the riders who are trying to support them.”

“It’s a really personal thing in both directions.”

Looking to the years ahead, Laycock said he plans to keep taking part in the challenge “as long as I physically have the ability.”

“I would just recommend anybody who can [to] participate. Obviously, sponsors are a really essential part but the more people who are riding, the more sponsors that there will be and obviously, the more help that the kids will be getting, and it’s really all about the kids.”

In the last five years, over 100,000 riders from all provinces and territories have ridden 15.4 million kilometres, helping raise over $21.7 million for research, care and the development of better treatments and cures for childhood cancer.