Soldiers’ Ride is your chance to be part of a memorable event, and enhance the health and wellness of our community, all at the same time.
“Soldiers’ Ride is an exclusive 20K/50K/100K cycling and fundraising event supporting enhanced patient care at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital,” explained Heather Saba, Senior Annual Giving Officer at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation. “Proceeds from Soldiers’ Ride will be designated to areas of greatest need. This will allow a greater opportunity to replace or upgrade essential equipment when it is needed most.”
The second annual ride is taking place on June 2 this year. All of the ride options start and end at picturesque Quayle’s Brewery, in Oro-Medonte.
The Foundation’s new treasurer, Chris Holtved, participated in the ride last year. “I was newly retired from my work in Toronto, and just moving up to live with my partner, Julie Gallagher, a longtime doctor in Orillia,” explained Holtved. “Given my and Julie’s careers and interest in healthcare, I figured the ride was the perfect opportunity to get involved in my new community, where it mattered most.”
Holtved challenged friends and team members who wanted to give him retirement gifts, to donate to his fundraising page for Soldiers’ Ride, instead. “Before I knew it, I was the top fundraiser. I kept checking my page and urging friends to donate…through their generous support, the total was close to $4,000!” he exclaimed.
Holtved completed the 50 K ride, with Julie, the weekend after he relocated to Orillia. “I didn’t know anyone at the Foundation at all,” he said. That changed quickly, however, as other participants and Foundation board members came up to congratulate him after the ride. Holtved ended up joining the board, and now serves as treasurer, as well as continuing to be a cheerleader and participant in the ride.
“This year, Julie and I want to put a big team together, and we are hoping to be the top team fundraiser,” he enthused.
“I have done a lot of rides all over the province and beyond, and the Soldiers’ Ride is one of the best inaugural charity rides I have ever been on,” he emphasized. “With that venue and route, it has the potential to be one of the top rides in the province as it grows. Whether you’re doing it for the ride or because of the cause, it should be a highlight on the Orillia calendar.”
He finished, “It was a really knock-it-out-of-the-park event. Just a spectacular day.”
According to Saba, 156 cyclists participated in Soldiers’ Ride in its first year. “The addition of the new 20 km route this year opens the ride up to more families and novice riders this year. We’ve already had people reaching out to inquire about registration who did not attend the event last year,” she said.
Registration for teams and riders for Soldiers’ Ride 2024 is open now, through the website.
Holtved completed, “It really does take a village. It’s what we do collectively, not individually, that makes the biggest difference. I hope you will join us on June 2 and make that difference.”