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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-09-07, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017. Sports Team Julie looking for members for fundraiser Have bikes, will ride Team Julie, a squad of cyclists riding to raise money for the Share the Road program on behalf of Julie Sawchuk, are looking for more members for Greg's Ride, the program's major fundraiser of the year. (File photo) By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen For the second year in a row, Blyth's Julie Sawchuk is bringing dozens of cyclists to Greg's Ride, a fundraiser for the provincial Share the Road initiative. The ride, named in memory of OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, who was killed while cycling in Milton in 2006, will be held in Hamilton this year and Sawchuk says she's expecting over 30 members of Team Julie to ride alongside her. The team, however, is always looking for new members and interested cyclists are encouraged to sign up at sharetheroad.ca. There are three distances for this year's ride: eight kilometres, 37 kilometres and 77 kilometres. Sawchuk will be riding her hand bike along the 37 -kilometre route and she will be joined by plenty of family members, including her husband Theo, children Ella and Oliver and others who are making the trip to Hamilton for the ride. Ella designed the team's shirts this year, so Julie says her daughter is excited that so many cyclists will be seen on the streets of Hamilton wearing her handmade design. Sawchuk first became involved with Greg's Ride Last year through her work with the Share the Road initiative. She has become a vocal advocate for reform of traffic regulations and education surrounding cycling in Ontario since she was paralyzed from the chest down when she was struck by a car while cycling over two years ago. At last year's ride, Sawchuk said she was "moved" by the event and how passionate those involved are in regards to cycling safety and how everyone was pulling in the same direction. Greg's Ride serves as the major fundraiser behind Share the Road's ability to lobby the provincial government for better laws to protect cyclists and stiffer penalties for those who fail to obey those laws. Recent changes in laws and stiffening of penalties, she says, have come as a direct result of Share the Road government lobbying, meaning that they have come as a direct result of Greg's Ride and its hundreds of participants every year. Not only was Sawchuk moved emotionally last year in Milton at the ride, but she was also moved physically, taking part in the ride with her husband Theo, who pushed her for the duration of the ride. While Sawchuk had yet to build up her arm muscles to a level that would facilitate the use of a hand bike at the time of the ride, she also was yet to buy a hand bike that could stand up to the demanding, hilly route. Now, with a year to work on it, she will be doing over 35 kilometres on her hand bike. Going back to last year's ride, however, Sawchuk said it was an important experience for her. It was the first time she had been out on the road since the collision and it felt Events, men's night well attended By Kassidy Martin It has been a very busy few weeks at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club. We hosted the Potty Cup Golf Tournament and had 48 attend. We also hosted a successful 50th wedding anniversary party for 80 people. The last few ladies' days, seniors days and men's nights have been very well attended. For the Tuesday ladies' day, there were 22 ladies in attendance. Jess Lockridge won the longest putt on hole nine and Ann Ross, closest -to -the -pin on hole two. On Wednesday there were 31 senior men out on such a gorgeous sunny morning. Winners were: Wayne Elston, first; Doug Neil, second; Brian Skinn, third; low gross, Steve Nixon; closest -to -the - pin, Doug Vanderwoude on hole two; Grant Currie, longest putt on hole three and Bruce Robertson, longest putt on hole six. On Thursday men's night, there were 51 golfers out. Winners were: low gross, John Dailleboust; closest - to -the -pin, Andy Williams, Brian Carr and John Dailleboust; longest putt, John Dailleboust, Terry Walker, Jeff Lockridge, Brian Carr and Doug Neil. Summer staff will be returning to school this September. We were very lucky to have their hard work and dedication at the club this year, not to mention, special thank you to our many volunteers always helping during our tournaments, wing nights and other special events that have happened over the summer. ■ 1 L -,I-li''IN 1111-14 �0 1" 111, 1, y1141111 (Fun) drasier Clinton Raceway held its Charity Driver's Challenge on Sunday. The event has helped to raise nearly $300,000 over the years for charities and community groups. This year, $6,000 was raised and will support, among others, the Brussels, Seaforth and Clinton Royal Canadian Legion Branches. (Quinn Talbot photo) great. She said to feel herself descending hills outdoors and on the road again was a magical feeling. Not only did she feel great being on the road again, but she felt very alive. Talking about Stobbart and how he died in a very similar incident to the one that paralyzed her, she says she came away from the ride feeling lucky to be alive. This is the 12th time the ride is taking to the road and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised in that time. "In 2006, OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart was killed while cycling on Tremaine Road in Milton. After Greg's death, his wife Eleanor McMahon founded the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in his memory to advocate for safer roads for all Ontarians," the ride's website states. "At Greg's Ride: Ontario's Ride for Safer Cycling, we ride in Greg's memory, celebrating how far cycling has come in over 10 years and striving to make Ontario the safest place in Canada to ride a bike." The ride takes place on Sunday, Sept. 24 and more information is available at sharetheroad.ca. Not just a namesake Team Julie rides on behalf of Julie Sawchuk in the Greg's Ride fundraiser for the Share the Road initiative. Sawchuk is part of the ride this year and will cycle 37 kilometres on her hand bike, shown above. (Photo submitted) ATTENTION Youth Ages 7-19 BLYTH JUNIOR BROOMBALL REGISTRATION For 2017/2018 Season Wednesday, September 13, 7-9 pm Blyth Arena New players require COPY of birth certificate Players younger than 7 welcome. Atom team based on numbers EVERYONE WELCOME! CaII Vicky 519-523-4870 www.blythjuniorbroomball.shutterfly.com Clinton‘i IS "C. Al)) SxATU CLU REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR ALL PROGRAMS OFFERED GO TO www.clintonskatingclub.com TO REGISTER Payment is only available by cheque or cash and will be collected on the following dates at the Central Huron Community Complex: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2017 9:00 - 11:00 AM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 6:00 - 8:00 PM PROGRAMS OFFERED INCLUDE: LEARN TO SKATE, CANSKATE, PRE -POWER, STARSKATE & POWER SKATING SKATING SEASON BEGINS SEPTEMBER 26th (Power Skating - Tuesday only) OCTOBER 12th (Wednesday session) OCTOBER 15th (Saturday session) YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON: In