Tim Leyshan is riding across Canada in Cycle for Life 2011. His goals are ambitious, attempting to get across the country in 75 days and raise a million dollars for kids with cancer, specifically Smiles for Sam, a Vancouver-based charity dedicated to helping children from low income families who have cancer.
Leyshan says he began planning the ride two years ago, and it has evolved from a ride in honor of family members to one dedicated to a specific charity and goal.
The inspiration behind Smiles for Sam, the charity Leyshan is riding for, was Samantha Mantyka. The young girl was 11 and recently lost her battle with cancer. Leyshan says that her and her family is a major motivator to keep going.
"It's been quite exciting to be able to do this on behalf of her and her family, but it's also been very difficult to have someone who you really were hoping to make it and see your results and then she didn't," Leyshan notes.
He says Mantyka was an inspiration because even as a young girl with cancer, she was able to remain positive and appreciate the life she had.
"An example of what really blew us away was when she was in the hospital for her chemo, she was brought into the children's ward and she met a two year old with leukemia. She was holding this two year old and she was upset, she felt that this child was only two years old and had leukemia and that was unfair, she said at least I've had 11 years of life, this two year old hasn't had an opportunity. To me, that's hard to comprehend that an 11 year old can think like that and understand that. It makes me realize that every day is so important," Leyshan recalls.
The crew has been riding since August 27, and Leyshan says it's been a difficult ride, with wind, rain and mountains all contributing to make the ride more difficult. Leyshan says that the ride from Saskatoon to Wynyard was the most difficult leg of the journey so far, with the wind being a formidable opponent.
"I can't believe we're 2,200 kms into the trip so far. It's been amazing, it's been tough, I've felt like breaking down and crying on the side of the road sometimes, there were many times when I've felt I couldn't get through the mountains, the wind and the rain, but I persevered, and I'm not even half way yet," Leyshan says.
Many people have supported Leyshan's project, and he says he's been humbled by the response many people have had to his ride.
"I don't see it as doing more than helping people out who need the help, but to them they see it as something that's heroic, that's huge and such a big thing. It's nice that people understand the enormity of it," Leyshan notes.
The fundraising goal is ambitious, something that Leyshan admits was a bit of a joke initially but still a goal they want to hit. Their interim goal is $10,000, and they have already reached over $8,000. He says he'll be happy if they hit $10,000, and anything after that will be great. Still, he has hope that they'll reach their ambitious goal, as during the course of the trip, their major sponsor Eco FuelSaver is donating a dollar from sales of their product in Canadian Tire locations to the cause.
People interested in contributing to the cause or just keeping track of where they're going or their progress can visit their site at www.cycle4life11.com.
