Relaunching the Road: Roy’s Ride for Research is Back for 2027!

Hey everyone,

If long-distance cycling teaches you anything, it’s that you can’t always control the weather, the terrain, or the road ahead. Sometimes you just have to pivot, find your footing, and wait out the storm before you can tackle the next big hill.

As you might have seen on the homepage, Roy’s Ride for Research had to be pushed back. I originally planned to roll out this year from August 15th to September 15th but I had to hit the brakes.  Here’s an explanation why and how things sorted themselves out, along with my new commitment to what's coming next.

An Unexpected Detour

About four months ago, I got some tough news: my job was facing potential layoffs. Suddenly, everything was up in the air. I was stuck in limbo, not knowing if I'd even have a job by the time August rolled around. I had to focus on defending my work, possibly competing for remaining roles, and potentially prepping for an intense new job search.

Pedalling thousands of kilometres for a month takes massive physical and mental energy. With that level of uncertainty in my life, I knew I couldn’t give the ride or the cause the focus it deserved so I made the hard call to postpone.

Clear Skies Ahead

After four months of turmoil, I am relieved to say the uncertainty has passed, the dark clouds have cleared! I’ve been reassigned to a different department within my agency and it is a great fit. My job should be safe and steady for the next few years.

With that weight off, I can get back to my commitment to help fund the future of childhood cancer research.

The Plan for 2027: Bigger & Better

Roy’s Ride for Research is locked in for next year, running from August 15th to September 15th, 2027.

Waiting until next year takes patience, but it also gives me a good head start to hit some of my milestones. Every single kilometre is dedicated to funding vital pediatric oncology research for the CHEO Foundation and the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. These teams do incredible work for kids and families battling cancer, and I want to raise as much support for them as possible.

With this extra time, I am setting the bar high: our fundraising goal is $25,000 for each charity, making it a total goal of $50,000 for childhood cancer research!

To get there, my immediate game plan focuses on three things:

• Training Hard: Getting my legs and lungs ready for a grueling month on the bike.

• Spreading the Word: Growing our social media presence so more people hear about our mission.

• Finding Partners: Connecting with local businesses and corporate sponsors who want to back this journey.
  

How You Can Join the Team Right Now

I might be the one in the saddle, but I definitely can't do this alone. I want this ride to be a massive community effort, and you don’t need a bicycle to help me cross the finish line!

Here is how you can jump in today:

• Spread the Word: Please share my blog and social media posts with your own networks. The more eyes we get on this, the closer we get to our goal!

• Talk to Friends: Tell your family, friends, and coworkers about the ride. Word of mouth is incredibly powerful.

• Suggest Sponsors: If you know a business that aligns with our mission to support pediatric oncology research, let me know!

• Calling All Small Business Owners: If you own a business and want to back a great cause, please reach out to me directly at roy@roysrideforresearch.ca! I would love to share info on how your business can be added directly to our Donors Page.
  

Of course, I’m still looking for your classic training advice, too! Drop a comment or send a message if you have any tips on training & food, route ideas, or blog topics you'd like to see me cover over the next year.

Thank you all so much for sticking by me through this detour. Your patience and support mean the absolute world to me. The road to 2027 starts right now!

Cheers,

Roy

Founder, Roy’s Ride for Research