The Ride to Conquer Cancer
Encyclopedia
The Ride to Conquer Cancer is an annual charity fundraiser held in various locations across Canada and Australia. It is organized as a non-competitive cycling
event that sees thousands of riders travel over 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) over two days. It was first held in the Toronto
area in 2008 and raised $14 million for the Princess Margaret Hospital
. Following the success of the first ride, the event spread to Montreal
, Calgary
and Vancouver
beginning in 2009, and to Brisbane
in 2011. In the four Canadian events in 2011, 11,000 riders raised $43.9 million.
in Toronto. Differing from other fundraisers, the event focused on having a relatively small number of participants raise considerably more money in support of cancer research. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $2,500 in order to ride. The event was a success, raising $14 million for the hospital and spawning three more rides in other locations across the country for 2009. It has quickly grown to become the largest cycling fundraiser in Canadian history, raising $88 million between 2008 and 2010.
, and between 2008 and 2011, the ride has raised over $130 million.
The Ontario ride originates in Toronto
and travels down to Niagara Falls
. 4,610 riders raised $17.5 million in support of the Princess Margaret Hospital in 2011, topping the 2010 record of $16.1 million.
The British Columbia ride originates in Vancouver
, and crosses into the United States to finish in Seattle. Nearly 2,900 riders raised $11.1 million in 2011 in support of the B.C. Cancer Foundation, in addition to the $18 million raised in the first two rides.
The Alberta ride originates at Spruce Meadows
in Calgary
and heads southwest to Chain Lakes Provincial Park
in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
before returning to Calgary. 2,880 riders raised $8.6 million in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation in 2011, both records. The event raised $14.2 million in its first two rides of 2009 and 2010.
The Quebec ride originates at Montreal
and finishes in Quebec City
and supports Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital
in Montreal. 1,886 riders raised $6.7 million in 2011.
August 20-21, 2011. Riding throughout Queensland's scenic countryside in two days. The money raised for The Rio Tinto
Ride to Conquer Cancer will benefit the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, one of the largest research institutes in Australia and across the southern hemisphere.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
event that sees thousands of riders travel over 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) over two days. It was first held in the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
area in 2008 and raised $14 million for the Princess Margaret Hospital
Princess Margaret Hospital (Toronto)
Princess Margaret Hospital is located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada on University Avenue at College Street. It is part of the University Health Network...
. Following the success of the first ride, the event spread to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
beginning in 2009, and to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in 2011. In the four Canadian events in 2011, 11,000 riders raised $43.9 million.
Organization
The Ride to Conquer Cancer was created in 2008 as a "mega-event" fundraiser in support of the Princess Margaret HospitalPrincess Margaret Hospital (Toronto)
Princess Margaret Hospital is located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada on University Avenue at College Street. It is part of the University Health Network...
in Toronto. Differing from other fundraisers, the event focused on having a relatively small number of participants raise considerably more money in support of cancer research. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $2,500 in order to ride. The event was a success, raising $14 million for the hospital and spawning three more rides in other locations across the country for 2009. It has quickly grown to become the largest cycling fundraiser in Canadian history, raising $88 million between 2008 and 2010.
Canada
The title sponsor for the four Canadian events is EnbridgeEnbridge
Enbridge Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta based company focused on three core businesses: crude oil and liquids pipelines, natural gas transportation and distribution, and green energy. The company has approximately 6,000 employees, mostly in Canada and the United States...
, and between 2008 and 2011, the ride has raised over $130 million.
The Ontario ride originates in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and travels down to Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
. 4,610 riders raised $17.5 million in support of the Princess Margaret Hospital in 2011, topping the 2010 record of $16.1 million.
The British Columbia ride originates in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and crosses into the United States to finish in Seattle. Nearly 2,900 riders raised $11.1 million in 2011 in support of the B.C. Cancer Foundation, in addition to the $18 million raised in the first two rides.
The Alberta ride originates at Spruce Meadows
Spruce Meadows
Spruce Meadows is an equestrian facility in Calgary, Alberta built by the Southern Family and opened in 1976. The show jumping complex is in the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains just south of the city and comprises...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and heads southwest to Chain Lakes Provincial Park
Chain Lakes Provincial Park
Chain Lakes Provincial Park is a provincial park located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Nanton, Alberta, Canada. It was established along the Chain Lakes Reservoir. The Cowboy Trail runs along the eastern boundary of the park....
in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
before returning to Calgary. 2,880 riders raised $8.6 million in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation in 2011, both records. The event raised $14.2 million in its first two rides of 2009 and 2010.
The Quebec ride originates at Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and finishes in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
and supports Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital
Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital
The Jewish General Hospital is an acute-care McGill University teaching hospital with 637 beds, serving patients from Montreal, from across the province of Quebec and around the world.The Jewish General...
in Montreal. 1,886 riders raised $6.7 million in 2011.
Australia
The event went international in 2011, as the Australian ride will take place in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
August 20-21, 2011. Riding throughout Queensland's scenic countryside in two days. The money raised for The Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto
- Businesses :* Rio Tinto Group, a British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne* Rio Tinto Alcan, a Canadian aluminum mining and production company headquartered in Montreal-Portugal:...
Ride to Conquer Cancer will benefit the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, one of the largest research institutes in Australia and across the southern hemisphere.