Yesterday, we highlighted the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation, a Canadian charity that raises funds through a series of physically challenging biking events. Now, we sit down with two Toronto-based young professionals – Robin Kennedy, a Toronto-based commercial real estate professional and Diane Klich, Senior Manager, Client Relationships for a technology company – to hear first-hand how it feels to bike coast to coast across the country and how one prepares for the challenge. It was Kennedy’s moving story of strength, physical endurance and inspiration on her 2011 Coast to Coast ride that inspired Klich to embark on the mission herself as she prepares for her own ride next week.
1) What inspired you to get involved?
Robin: In January 2011, my close friend and colleague was diagnosed with kidney cancer. I felt compelled to support him and I began researching different avenues and came across The Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation. Upon reading that 100 per cent of receiptable donations was actually donated to the research, I knew I had found the way to support my colleague and his family during this difficult time.
Diane: I was actually inspired by Robin’s story last summer when we met at a mutual friend’s cottage during one of her training rides. I thought to myself: I love to travel and explore, am single, healthy and don’t have kids, so I have the time to train. I had nothing to lose. I decided to do it simply because I could, and if I was going to do something this big, the efforts should go towards something bigger. In saying that, I reflected on how many people I knew with cancer and was astonished at the numbers (over 30). With research in childhood cancer benefiting adult cancer (but not in reverse), it was a way of contributing to the cause as a whole. The real kicker, however, that made me take the leap and fill out the form was learning a friend’s two-year-old had cancer – my fear of the ride was nothing compared to theirs and I signed up that day.
2) How do you get involved with the Coast to Coast Foundation? How can other young professionals?
Robin: Becoming involved is the easy part. I spoke with Mike Smith, Event Manager for the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride, and asked a slew of questions at the beginning of January 2011. After speaking with him, I confirmed my interest in becoming one of the 2011 National Riders and submitted my application. A few weeks later, I received my acceptance letter. The shock set in a few days later, when I began outlining what was actually needed to achieve this goal – fundraising $25,000, equipment, training, etc., all the while still working full-time. It seemed like such a daunting task, but was quickly put in perspective when I looked up to the empty desk beside me. I was ready for the challenge.
I more than encourage other young professionals to get involved with the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation. I can honestly say completing the National Ride from Vancouver to Halifax has changed my life for the better. It sounds a bit corny, but it has opened my life up to so many possibilities. It’s amazing that out of something so scary and awful as kidney cancer, something so profound and beautiful has come to the forefront. I started off as one lone rider, training countless hours on solo rides. But I finished the journey as part of a family.
For others to become involved, reviewing the website is a great place to start as you can read the stories, blogs, postings and watch awe-inspiring videos that help clearly define the mission of the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation. If you want, go one step further and reach out to the National Riders or anyone who has participated in a Coast to Coast event and you will quickly be inspired to take part.
Diane: The application process is simple – you just have take a leap of faith and go for it. For me, the biggest hurdle to mentally get over was the sponsorship numbers. It’s intimidating but possible because sponsorship-in-kind (e.g. media, food, volunteers, hotels) can be credited towards your fundraising goal and they have the inside ride to help you rally a group of people to raise money. The fear was the unknown because I’ve never attempted something this ‘big’ before. I told myself, “what’s the worst that can happen?” Once you dive into it, you surprise yourself with each physical and fundraising accomplishment.
3) How did you fundraise? Are you fundraising?
Robin: Fundraising involved many elements. Working for CBRE Limited at the time, I was able to reach out nationally through an email campaign I created. Because this was a national event, I was aiming to generate support for my team across the country. The foundation made donating and sponsoring easy with all web-based technology that helped track all donations and supporters on one centralized website. But achieving $25,000 just by email alone was not my goal. I wanted my supporters to experience this journey first-hand, so I teamed up with Len Pace of Osmington Inc. and we held an Inside Ride Corporate Real Estate Industry Challenge. We held our event in front of Union Station, where the teams pedaled it out against each other riding stationary bikes. In just two weeks, we had raised over $33,000. The involvement from our industry was overwhelming and the Inside Ride event surpassed our targeted goal.
I was also able to secure some major sponsors: Westmont Hospitality Group, who sponsored the events hotel accommodations both in Vancouver and in Halifax (a very generous and most appreciated sponsorship), Shalit Foods Inc., who sponsored through food donations towards our meals. Being able to enjoy delicious Jamie Oliver food a long the way helped satisfy our hungry bellies.
I was successfully able to surpass my goal of $25,000 and reach over $43,000 prior to commencing the ride with the help of everyone mentioned above and through family and friends.
Diane: You can get creative as well. I threw an event, Rock it for Kids, on June 28th, which was held at Revival (Toronto) and featured an impressive lineup of local bands. I also did something called Lotto Diane where I did a lotto draw for some great prizes for every $100 personal donation. I also found some schools to participate in an Inside Ride, and was really lucky in getting a sponsorship-in-kind for media coverage and food. Many others bring a personal training outside Sears or an LCBO, hold jeans day, bake sales and partner up with other organizations to help them fundraise – you need to work your network and ask for help.
4) How did/are you training?
Robin: I began with spin classes in the late winter/early spring months to prepare myself for hitting the open road with a good base. Once the spring hit, it was all about the open road and I would try to go longer distances on the weekends (riding different locations every weekend through Ontario – Lake of Bays, Lake Muskoka, Fenelon Falls, Carnarvon, Bracebridge, Collingwood, etc.) Changing locations was key for me to help eliminate the boredom of being a solo rider and it allowed me test my skill level on various terrains. Witnessing that my skill level wasn’t improving as quickly as possible, I was sponsored and hired two personal trainers to help build my physique off the bike. As I had chosen to ride in Group 2 (which was an average of 280km per day), I really needed to develop my muscular strength.
Diane: I started a 4-5 days-a-week training program, with 2-3 days a week at an endurance cycling studio called WattsUp Cycling. WattsUp is a science-backed, performance-based training program that measures performance by watts. You train indoors on your own bike on stationary trainers where you control wattage output. Watts-based training provides a measurement of the workload you can do independent from speed, winds, hills and all the other variables that can affect the quality of your ride. This approached enabled me to work on consistently improving my strength across all types of zones.
To build up my ‘on the road’ experience, I spent my weekends doing back-to-back rides of 80-100+ kilometres both Saturday and Sunday and jumped into group rides with WattsUp to learn how to safely and efficiently ride in a group. Training with a group pushes you in different ways depending on the group. At the beginning, there was no consistency, just good and bad days, it was a science experiment to learn what worked for my body and the balance of nutrition, sleep, recovery and group riding all working together to give the best performance on the road.
5) What was a typical day on the road like?
Robin: Mornings move quickly, and usually involve a 6am breakfast. We had about 30-60 minutes to eat breakfast, use the bathroom, prepare and get dressed before we would head out on our bikes. Our morning wake-up calls where always pleasant with various tunes played over Rich’s phone.
Being on our bikes was gruelling but always enjoyable. Day one and two were very difficult for me, as riding through the mountains and climbing Rogers Pass was a daunting and humbling experience. It was wonderful to ride along with my teammates and develop life-long friendships. The scenery was breathtaking, not a cloud in the sky for the first five days and at the end of each day I was able to say to myself “You did it.” Each day I achieved my goal of physically completing the ride, but also reached my goal of helping create awareness for kids’ cancer research. I was fulfilling the promise I had made to my family, friends and sponsors. Stopping in small towns and at hospitals along the way, meeting children and their families, was an emotional journey that helped us all stay connected to the cause. Each day was filled with laughter and tears – memories that will last forever.
As Sears is the major sponsor, we ate many home-cooked meals at local Sears stores, showered at gyms, hockey arenas and truck shops. There was nothing glamourous about parts of the journey, but you always have to take the good with the bad.
8) What was the most Challenging part?
Robin: There were many challenging parts to the whole experience. The physical demand on my body was quite shocking, being a new cyclist and committing to ride an average of 280km for 16 consecutive days seemed ridiculous and unachievable. I managed to last with Group 2 for the first seven days. Due to some health issues (popping ribs) and just not being strong enough, I sadly decided to switch to Group 1 in order to finish the journey. Day 7 was mentally exhausting as I felt like I had misled everyone and let them down as I wasn’t able to finish the goal I had set out to do. But thankfully, Group 1 welcomed me with open arms and I finished my journey across Canada even stronger than I started. I have to say, one truly learns how to be solely with one’s self after spending many months alone training. Your mental focus is quickly put to the test.
8) What was your favourite part of the ride?
Robin: There are so many favourite parts to the ride. Personally, I was able to achieve a personal best – cycling 300 km in one day through the prairies. Probably what stands out the most was being able to cycle with Josh Nelson, an 8-year cancer survivor. He truly was an inspiration to everyone. Nothing could diminish his drive, nothing could shake his dedication, nothing could break his smile, and nothing could stop his delightful humour.
6) What is another best part about the entire experience?
Robin: The best part was the friendships that developed and the perspective it gives you. It changes you and makes you realize that one person really can make a difference. Each day you have the choice of how to live that day and being able to focus one’s efforts towards helping others is so rewarding.
The impact of this inspiring journey is immediately evident through Robin’s reflection and Diane’s determination. You can support Diane as she embarks on her coast to coast ride by following her personal blog and she will also be blogging for MetroNews Canada where you can follow her directly from metronews.ca. You can also connect her with potential sponsors (they still need food and gas), organize an Inside Ride on her behalf, or donate directly. List people you know impacted by cancer and donate $1 in honour of each of them.
We will keep you posted on Diane’s incredible journey.
Top photo courtesy Jessica Douglas
