Anyone can join RBC’s team as long as he or she commits to raising $2,500. Barnsdale has raised as much as $17,500 in the past and is pleased to meet his target for this year to support breakthrough research, exemplary teaching, and compassionate care at Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the top five cancer research centres in the world. RBC riders also get a jersey and pants.
“The other important thing, which I can’t stress enough, is that it’s a ride. You can take as much time as you want and enjoy the camaraderie. You get to know a lot of people and make a lot friends. I even bumped into people from high school at the ride whom I hadn’t seen in decades. But, I can’t overstate that it’s a ride. It’s not a race. Some people think it’s a race. It’s a ride. It’s still challenging, don’t get me wrong, spending all day on a bicycle. But, it’s motivating. It’s inspirational.”
Read more: Chief economist optimistic about further economic recovery
The ride now is 15 years old, and Barnsdale has just completed his ninth ride of doing it.
“A colleague who is a very good friend of mine had been bugging me to participate in it for a number of years,” said Barnsdale, noting that his dad, uncle, cousin, and good friend all died of cancer. “I just said, ‘Forget it.’ One year, I finally said, “I’ll do it for one year because it’s an amazing event.”
