Gran Fondo – a grand ending to Bring TOM to Town

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the in-person Gran Fondo Lake Huron presented by Bruce Power in support of the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation, has come and gone and was ‘wildly’ successful.

(L) Bruce Power Pres. & CEO Mike Rencheck, Hospital Foundation Exec. Dir. Tracy Murray           and Campaign Co-Chair James Scongack with Gran Fondo results
(L) Jenny Sconcack (funraising campaign co-Chair), Tracy Murray (Exec. Dir. Hospital Foundation), Gary Simms (Pres.& CEO GBHS), Stacey Catalano (Foundation Chair) and James Scongack (fundraising campaign co-Chair)

More than 600 cyclists registered to take part and, of those, 60 per cent were visitors from outside of the community,

In the early morning hours of August 21st with the sun barely up, the 600-plus cyclists were ready to go.

                                                     Sun is barely up as cyclists get set to head out

Although it appeared as though it might rain, the weatherman cooperated with only a few sprinkles as the start began at 7:00 a.m.  Some ‘hard-core’ riders had chosen the 110km route, while others decided on the 70km [video] and 30km [video] routes, but all were there for one reason, to raise funds for a new CT scanner for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital through individual and company fundraising efforts.

For large view, Click on Image

 

Following the rides, everyone returned to the Coliseum in Southampton for a catered lunch by the Great Canadian BBQ and where emcee James Scongack, Bruce Power Chief Development Officer & Executive Vice President, Operational Services lead the announcements of the prize winners and top fundraisers.

Among the prizes offered were:

  • a private tour for eight of MacLean’s brewery including food, swag and beer to take home
  • An Executive stay at the Paradise Inn Port Elgin
  • a $1,500 Gift Card to Cobble Beach (courtesy of Bruce Power)
  • a $100 gift card to the Wismer House and $50 to Three Sheets Brewery
  • a Trax indoor bike trainer
  • a Garmin GPS cylcing computer and heart rate monitor
  • a GoPro 8 (donated by Bruce Power
  • A Trek bike donated by Martin’s Bike Shop
  • …. many more

There were also prizes for the oldest and the youngest participants.  The oldest, Jim Coles at 83, won a Camelbak hydration bundle ($200) and the youngest, Sage Sims at 2, won two $100 Martin’s Bicycle Shop gift cards.

In addition, 47 Gran Fondo Grand Society jerseys were handed out individually by Mike Rencheck, President and CEO of Bruce Power.

The top three individual fundraisers were Sage Sims in 3rd place($4,041), Tom MacLean in 2nd place ($6,873) and 1st place overall individual was Michael Guyatt who raised an incredible $15,062.

The top three fundraising teams were ‘Team Who’ in 3rd place ($9,147), ‘The Brady Bunch’ ($13,632) and the top 1st place team. and former 2019 champions ‘Tour de Friends’ topped their own previous record at $20,340.

Tour de Friends a fundraising force to be reckoned with for the   second time as Mike Rencheck presents the Gran Fondo Top                                 Fundraising Team trophy

The overall goal of the ‘Bring TOM to Town CT Scanner Campaign’ was $3M and, up until the Gran Fondo, the total stood at slightly more than $2.7M, so that the hope was to reach the goal.

Not only was the goal reached, it was a fundraising record.  The Gran Fondo raised $400,772, with Bruce Power matching the first $100,000, resulting in more than the $3M goal raised.

 

Grey Bruce Health Services President and CEO, Gary Sims laughingly said, “Southampton, Saugeen Shores has been so successful that I have now been approached by three other rural hospitals in our region for CT Scanners!  This is an incredible. achievement for the community and everyone should be very proud.”

 

While the Gran Fondo is over for another year and it’s going to be hard to top, Executive Director of the Hospital Foundation, Tracy Murray already has her sights set on 2023.  “I am excited for next year,” she says.  “There are going to be some big surprises so … stay tuned!”