For Marie Johnstone, cancer has “hit too close to home, too often.” She has dedicated the last four years to raising funds for the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) through the Great Cycle Challenge Canada.
“I think I started because my daughter, Angela’s best friend at school died of cancer and, being so close to the family, it hit home. This year, I just lost my own mom to cancer, so cancer in general has particular meaning. It’s touched my life too many times.”
After her friend’s passing, Angela volunteered at the children’s cancer ward at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to complete her high school volunteer hours. Joining her daughter and spending time with the children was an impactful experience for Johnstone.
“There’s a couple times you come out and go to the car and there’s a few tears, for sure.”
When Johnstone came across the Great Cycle Challenge’s slogan, “Because kids should be living life, NOT fighting for it,” she was inspired to join the cause.
“I told myself, ‘That’s it, let’s cure this thing!’”
Over the last few years, Johnstone has taken on the challenge to “Kick Cancer’s Butt” and make a difference for the over 17,000 Canadian children diagnosed with cancer every year. Since 2021, she has ridden 810 kilometres and raised $8,452.11 for the SickKids Foundation. This year, her goal is to raise $2,500 and ride 500 kilometres in August, a distance she considers to be a personal challenge. Although Johnstone surpassed her goal last year by riding 511 kilometres, she will be attending Angela’s wedding in Ajax during the month – leaving just over two weeks to cover the ambitious distance. She’s not deterred: she has been diligently training on her indoor trainer throughout the winter to prepare for the task and, once the snow melted, she began riding into work, from Coldbrook to 14 Wing Greenwood, at least twice per week, covering approximately 65 kilometres with every trip, as well as making time on the weekends for a 30-kilometre ride.
When she isn’t training, Johnstone is canvassing the Valley for donations. Since she began in February, she has reached $1,700 of the $2,500 she plans on raising. Just as she did last year, she has collected items for a Facebook auction in August (and would love to hear from anyone interested in adding to the auction collection). She has also stood up tables at various grocery stores to sell Epicure kits and a variety of Peace by Chocolate chocolates to raise funds.
“I can’t say enough about Peace by Chocolate,” says Johnstone; “about how much they’ve helped me with the fundraising – and their chocolate is delicious!”
Anyone interested in purchasing chocolate or Epicure kits for the cause may contact her at Marie.Johnstone@forces.gc.ca.
“My hope is that whatever The SickKids Foundation finds through their research, it will help cure cancer in general.”
Donations may also be submitted through Johnstone’s profile on the Great Cycle Challenge Canada’s webpage.
