Bike riding is a healthy activity.
The Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation will certainly vouch for that.
The foundation just received a cheque for $20,842 to support healthcare initiatives, the proceeds raised from the 10th annual Bike-A-Thon, sponsored by the Punjabi Canadian Senior Society.
The Aug. 31 ride started at the Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple in the south end of the city at 4298 Davis Rd., and finished at Purden Lake provincial park, a 67-kilometre trip. After their ride, the cyclists fueled up with a picnic lunch provided by the society before they rode back to Prince George.
Over the past 10 years the event has raised more than $150,000.
“We are truly grateful for the generosity and ambition shown for healthcare by everyone," said Judy Neiser, CEO of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
“Each year they continue to direct their donations to an area of greatest need and focusing on healthy messages to youth is ideal. Our hope is that what is learned through this program is retained and shared with family and friends so that everyone benefits from great lessons learned at a young age.”
Money raised by Spirit of the North has provided University Hospital of Northern B.C. funding for its cardiac campaign, an Optos OCT-SLO imaging system for retinal analysis, a Spect CT scanner for diagnostic imaging, and a dedicated maternal operating room.
Funds raised this year form the Bike-A-Thon will support of the Spirit of Healthy Kids program; a partnership between the foundation, Northern Health and the Prince George Cougars hockey team. A program is geared towards elementary school students to teach kids about the benefits of making healthy choices, being active, reading, being kind and giving back to the community.
"It is important that the money raised stays here locally to help, and that our event draws the community together," said Bike-A-Thon co-ordinator Gordie Powar.
