It was a record breaking fundraising day for the riders of the Gran Fondo Lake Huron, presented by Bruce Power & Suppliers, raising over $516,000 in support of local healthcare, when 820 riders made up of residents from across Saugeen Shores, Grey and Bruce Counties, communities across Ontario, other provinces, the United States, England, Bermuda and the Netherlands, made this year’s Gran Fondo a celebration that reached far beyond the region.
“To see 820 riders come together for healthcare in our community is incredible,” said Tracy Murray, Executive Director of Saugeen Shores Hospital Foundation. “Some travelled thousands of kilometres to be here. Others live just down the road, but on Saturday, they were all riding for the same reason, to make a difference for patients and families across our region.”
The Foundation expresses its gratitude to Saugeen Shores and the Bruce County communities for welcoming hundreds of visiting cyclists and helping make the event such a memorable experience. Gran Fondo is also made possible by an incredible team of volunteers who give their time throughout the weekend and across the routes.
“Our volunteers are a vital part part of Gran Fondo,” Murray said. “They are often the first smiling face riders see in the morning and some of the loudest voices welcoming them back at the finish. We are incredibly grateful for everything they do.”
At the heart of Gran Fondo Lake Huron’s success is the extraordinary support of Bruce Power and its supplier community. Together with local businesses their investment, participation and fundraising have helped grow Gran Fondo into one of the region’s most significant fundraising events for healthcare.
“The commitment of Bruce Power, the nuclear supplier community and all of our sponsors is remarkable,” Murray said. “Year after year, they do so much more than sponsor this event. They build teams, rally their employees, fundraise alongside us and make a significant investment in the healthcare available to the people who live and work in this region. We simply could not achieve what we do through Gran Fondo without them.”
“Gran Fondo is ultimately about people coming together,” Murray added, “820 riders, an incredible team of volunteers, generous sponsors, thousands of donors and an entire community behind them. To everyone who played a part, thank you. What we accomplished together will make a difference for patients and families across
our region.”
