Toronto, ON – It takes special dedication to ride 600 kilometres through all sorts of terrain, in traffic, and up long hills in sweltering summer heat. In addition, cyclists in the Friends for Life Bike Rally are required to raise a minimum of $2,500. Richard Whittaker, a REALTOR® with Sutton Group - Associates Realty Inc.*, brushed up on his piano, singing and dancing skills to be part of a cabaret performance that raised an impressive $8,000 for his entry fee. This year marked his eighth time participating in the Friends for Life Bike Rally.
“There was a good turnout this year and together we raised $1.7 million for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation,” says Richard. “That amount is staggering—a breakthrough for the 20th anniversary of the rally.”
The multi-day ride began in Toronto on July 29 and meandered through the picturesque countryside and towns along Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River to finish in Montreal on August 3.
The choice to participate this time was not an easy one. “I took the last three years off cycling to deal with my family and personal things, so getting back on the bike was a challenge. This is a very long ride and, because of the brutal heat waves this summer, I was hesitant, but decided to go. As it turned out, we got lucky with the weather. It was relatively cool and nearby storms passed us by.”
It was also a more poignant ride. In preparation for previous rallies, Richard volunteered his time to train and encourage other riders. Sadly, these people, including one of his close friends, have passed away.
The Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA) provides direct support to more than 2,500 men, transmen, women, transwomen and children living with HIV/AIDS. To register for the 2019 event or to sponsor participants, please visit www.bikerally.org.
Sutton is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated company with more than 7,500 REALTORS® in over 200 offices nationwide. To find out more about Sutton, visit www.sutton.com. To learn more about Sutton Spirit, visit www.suttonspirit.com.
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Sutton Group - Associates Realty Inc.* Contact:
Richard Whittaker
416-926-8000
*Independently owned and operated brokerage
Sutton Group Realty Services Ltd. Contact:
Gabrielle Giroux
604-691-1655
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