HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-06-16, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016.
Fire Riders raise thousands for cancer centre
Another year
The Blyth -based Fire Riders cycling team completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer on the
weekend, travelling from Toronto to Niagara Falls, battling scorching heat and harsh winds
along the way. While a final tally has yet to be completed, the five -member team has raised
over $14,000 for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. The team is pictured here in
Niagara Falls after crossing the finish line together. From left: Team inspiration and former
Blyth Fire Chief Paul Josling, Jeff Josling, Shanann Josling, Shawn Loughlin, Kelsy Long and
Mike McDowell. (Photo submitted)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
For the second consecutive year,
the Blyth -based Fire Riders
completed the Ride to Conquer
Cancer, cycling from Toronto to
Niagara Falls and raising thousands
of dollars along the way.
The team, comprised of five Blyth
residents, three of whom are
members of the Fire Depaittnent of
North Huron's Blyth station,
departed Toronto's Canadian
National Exhibition grounds shortly
after 8 a.m. on Saturday morning,
alongside nearly 5,000 other
cyclists.
It was announced at the event's
opening ceremonies that this year's
ride raised over $17 million for the
Princess Margaret Cancer
Foundation. While a final total has
yet to be calculated, the five
members of the Fire Riders raised
over $14,000 for the cause.
Team captain and North Huron
firefighter Jeff Josling said that the
first day of the ride was a brutal
experience as riders were challenged
with temperatures of over 30°C on a
day that included several demanding
hill climbs as the team made its way
into Hamilton.
He said that the end of Saturday's
route, as the Fire Riders pulled into
Hamilton's McMaster University,
was the toughest part of the ride.
Riders were completely drained
from the heat and their energy was
depleted as a result of relentless
hills.
While the team battled hours of
hard rain on the second day of last
year's ride, Josling and other
teammates said they found this
year's heat even more challenging.
The team then pushed off from
Hamilton just after 7 a.m. on Sunday
for the longer of the two days. While
Saturday's route was challenging, it
was the shorter of the two days at 94
kilometres, compared to Sunday's
116 kilometres.
The five members of the Fire
Riders — Josling, his wife Shanann,
Blyth firefighters Kelsy Long and
Mike McDowell and Citizen Editor
Shawn Loughlin — crossed the finish
line together in Niagara Falls in the
early afternoon on Sunday, and were
met by a large group of friends,
family members and team
supporters.
Josling said that having done the
ride last year, he had a great deal of
confidence in this year's group,
knowing they had what it takes to
finish the ride. He said he almost
"took it for granted" forgetting
just how tough the ride can be.
Something new this year, however,
was that several members of
Josling's family volunteered as crew
members for the ride, working at pit
stops along the route — rising as early
as 3 a.m. to do so. His son Kyle, his
sister Joanne Dixon and brother-in-
law Mike Dixon were all members
of the volunteer team.
Josling said it was "awesome" to
be able to connect with his family at
the pit stops and then meet up with
friends and colleagues at subsequent
pit stops along the route.
It was seeing his family and
friends at the finish line, however,
that made the challenge all worth it.
Jeff's children, his sister and her
family and Jeff's parents, Dianne
and Paul, the long-time Blyth fire
chief, were all in attendance and
seeing how happy they were at the
end of the ride was an exhilarating
feeling, Jeff said.
"The support from them makes all
the difference," Jeff said. "I don't
really know how to put it into
words."
With Paul continuing to battle his
second bout of cancer, Jeff said it
was important to him to see his
father at the finish line, knowing that
his health has slowed him down of
late. Paul said he was "very
impressed" by the whole event,
knowing that thousands of cyclists
and volunteers were coming
together for such a great cause.
"It's just amazing how people turn
out for this," Paul said. "I'm just so
damn proud of our guys."
Paul was at the finish line, wearing
one of the Fire Riders' custom-made
jerseys, saying he was proud to be
able to wear it.
Paul said he had even more pride
this year, first for the riders and then
for his daughter Joanne, son-in-law
Mike and grandson Kyle who all
expressed extreme dedication
volunteering at pit stops throughout
the weekend. He also said he was
proud of the team's unofficial pit
crew, which tracked the Fire Riders
through pit stops, to camp in
Hamilton and then to Niagara Falls.
Just as they did last year, a group
consisting of Carla Pawitch, Darren
and Shelley Storey and John
Uptegrove, helped the team
whenever help was necessary,
Team spirit
The Fire Riders cycling team made sure to cross the Niagara Falls finish line of the Ride to
Conquer Cancer on Sunday together, led by Captain Jeff Josling. Being recognized by name
by the event's announcer as the team crossed, Josling says, is something he'll remember for
years to come. From left: Jeff Josling, Mike McDowell, Shannan Josling, Kelsy Long and
Shawn Loughlin. (Photo submitted)
providing invaluable assistance
while the team was on the road.
Jeff also said that he truly
appreciated the commitment of his
teammates. With Paul fighting
cancer, Jeff said he knew he wanted
to participate in the Ride to Conquer
Cancer, but when people joined up
alongside him, he was truly humbled
by their dedication.
After crossing the finish line on
Sunday, Jeff already enrolled for the
2017 Ride to Conquer Cancer,
which will be the foundation's 10th.
After crossing the finish line and
feeling the high that came with it,
Jeff said it wasn't even a difficult
decision.
Paul says he knew Jeff would
enlist in next year's ride at his
earliest opportunity and that he
hopes to be at the finish line in 2017
to cheer for his son.
As far as his most memorable
moment from the weekend, Jeff said
it was when the team crossed the
finish line together and the event
announcer called the Fire Riders and
Jeff by name that it truly meant a lot
to him. It's a moment, he said, that
he'll always remember.
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