BIG BIKE.
Employees from the Bracebridge Your Independent Grocer prepare to set off on a big bike ride to benefit the Heart and Stroke Foundation on Wednesday, May 23.
Photo by Louis Tam
BRACEBRIDGE - Though he was a little stiff, Glenn Taylor had the full power of his colleagues behind him during a charity biking event this week.
A produce worker at the Bracebridge Your Independent Grocer, Taylor was pedaling in his second Big Bike for Heart and Stroke event with many of his co-workers on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 23. The annual charity event involves having large groups of participants pedal a large, custom-built bike as a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Taylor took on the challenge despite having suffered a stroke a year and a half ago – an incident which has left the entire left side of his body stiff to this day.
“I gotta get going again, and it’s for a good cause,” he said of his reasons for participating.
After a brief warm-up, the Your Independent Grocer Team put their pedals to the metal, with a police escort leading the way. The group pedaled the large bike, which seats 30 pedallers, through area streets around their store to energetic tunes and enthusiastic cheers.
Pedalling alongside the employees was Your Independent Grocer owner Guy Gagnon, whose store has been a longtime participant in the charity event.
“We like to do what the staff feels is important,” he said.
The Your Independent Grocer team was one of four groups participating in the Big Bike for Heart and Stroke event this week. Participants from Community Living South Muskoka, Georgian College and Fenner-Dunlop also showed up throughout the day to pedal the big bike in support of the charity.