Last week I signed up to do the Great Cycle Challenge happening in June. It is a fundraiser to raise money and awareness of the fight to end childhood cancer. I am cycling to raise funds to help the SickKids Foundation continue its work in developing treatments and finding a cure for childhood cancer

I am excited to do my part to end this horrible disease that so many children are fighting (over 1400 children in Canada are diagnosed with Cancer every year). Children should be living life, not fighting for it.

Although I signed up for this challenge to participate in the fundraiser, I will also be reaping the benefits of cycling again.

For the past few years my bike has resided in the back recesses of the garage alongside the treadmill. I have never really been a particularly fit person, but I used to love riding my bike as a way to get a little exercise in my day and to enjoy my surroundings. Then I moved and the bike and treadmill were buried behind some other garage things. For a while now I have been meaning to pull out both pieces of equipment and start using them again.

As I have aged I experienced a progressive weight gain that needs to be nipped in the bud before the damage is irreversible. All I really need is the motivation to get off the couch and do something! The accountability of this challenge should be just the motivation needed to make those small changes that will improve lifestyle.

1. This challenge is all over social media and so I am accountable to my peers.
2. I will be collecting money from people sponsoring the challenge and I am accountable to them to complete it. Those people expect me to ride the 50km that I have pledged to ride during June.
3. In order to succeed at the challenge, I will need to prepare by working my way up to a level of fitness that will physically help me actually get on the bike each day and ride the kilometres needed to meet the challenge.
4. The challenge will give me a pride of accomplishment once achieved.
5. As a bonus, the process of hauling out my bike each day will be firmly ingrained in my routine by the end of June, encouraging me to continue riding after the challenge has finished.

I am looking forward to the added health benefits that riding a bike will bring to my body, but most of all I look forward to helping the children facing the diagnosis of cancer.

Please join the fight by either completing the challenge yourself, or by supporting me through sponsorship. Your support will change little lives!