With five teams participating in three rides around downtown Williams Lake, the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike Ride Thursday afternoon was aiming to raise $13,000 between the lakecity and 100 Mile House.
The Save-On-Foods team, where the Big Bike was stationed with the starting line and registration desk, was first up at 4 p.m.
Next up was the Scotiabank, RBC and Daybreak Rotary team, followed by longtime participants, the Taseko Mines Ltd. team.
Matt Bennison, a Williams Lake Save-On-Foods employee, was one of this year’s riders. Bennison suffered a stroke five years ago, and said it’s nice to be able to help out the organization.
“It’s just something I do, is raise money for it,” he said. “Staying active has been a big help in my recovery — I even ran a half marathon in Kamloops, Boogie the Bridge, this past April.”
Driver Garry Dyck of Calgary, meanwhile, is on tour with the bike as it makes its way to cities throughout B.C.
“I’m been on the road for seven weeks already, and it’s about two-and-a-half months altogether for all of B.C.”
For fundraising totals as they become available check www.wltribune.com.
