Over $66,000 raised for cancer research

Commitment, hard work, and generosity are what it takes to be a part of GIVETOLIVE’s The BIG RIDE, an annual bike ride to raise funds for cancer research. The BIG RIDE came about in 2007 and has taken place all over the globe, including a route from Vancouver to Austin, Banff to Boulder, Europe, and right here in the Maritimes, on Cape Breton Island.

A stellar example of philanthropy, in early 2000, Nova Scotia native Beatrice Hunter gave a large donation toward cancer research at Dalhousie University. This gift created the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute (BHCRI) and the Cancer Research Training Program that The BIG RIDE fundraising helps to support. Together, they are creating the health research problem-solvers of tomorrow, with visions of finding faster diagnoses, better treatments, and ultimately, cures for the complex disease that is cancer.

This year’s The BIG RIDE was an epic ride through Gros Morne National Park in stunning Newfoundland, where riders took part to “Ride the Rock.” Participating in the 2023 ride, cycling over 300 kilometres along the roads leading into, within, and around the park over four days in June, was Dalhousie medical student, Ashley Osa-Peters.

“My friend and classmate Sam, who also did the ride, sent me the link to the Give to Live page a few months ago and we both decided to do The BIG RIDE pretty quickly,” says Ashley. “As a student with a background in research, I know how important research funding is and being able to do something like this to help support the impactful research at the BHCRI was a no brainer.”