ARVC Bike Ride for Greg
Donation protected
2022 RIDE Update…and away we go!
At the end of May, Adam starts pedaling again, this time approximately 6000km from Victoria BC to southern Ontario. Previous donations have gone a long way to secure ferry and lodging fees as well as fuel costs. With increasing fuel prices, every little bit helps to ensure that his support vehicle can join him again this year! Check out the great work being done at www.arvcfamilysupport.org and follow Adam on social media @ride4arvc. Thank you for your generous support!!!
November 2 Update
My family and I would like to express our immense gratitude for the overwhelming support that so many people have shown by contributing to this fund. Because of you, the first part of the ride was a huge success, and the many connections with families across eastern Canada have set the stage for our family support network becoming a powerful resource for people impacted by ARVC.
Stay tuned for details of part 2 of my ride, taking place between May and August 2022 when I pedal from BC back to Ontario. In the meantime, please keep spreading the word by sharing our story!
From the bottom of our hearts, as fragile as they may be,
Adam
Read below to learn our story
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August 5 Update - We are ready to launch!
Our 3 main goals include:
1) Raising awareness of ARVC for all Canadian families and health care providers,
2) Provide support for families diagnosed with ARVC at our soon-to-be-launched website (www.arvcfamilysupport.org), and
3) Raise funds to help the research and clinical care efforts at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the UHN in Toronto
------------------------------------------
Greetings.
My name is Adam Hoerdt.
Shortly after losing my wife, Jackie, to a sudden cardiac arrest in 2001, I moved to Waterford, Ontario where I have since raised my two boys, Greg and Ben.
Unfortunately, we have since discovered that my late wife, both of our boys, and many other family members are afflicted with ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy), an inherited electrical condition of the heart which can result in sudden cardiac arrest. This disease is known for its wrath of taking the lives of young adults without warning during a cardiac arrest. Some additional information regarding ARVC is below:
- ARVC is a disease of the heart wall (myocardium) appearing in early adulthood
- It results in the break-down of the heart wall over time, which leads to an abnormal heartbeat. This makes any moderate to heavy form of exercise very dangerous and causes an increased risk of cardiac arrest at an early age
- While it's prevalence remains uncertain, it is estimated that up to 1 in 1000 people are genetically predisposed to ARVC
- It is autosomal dominant, meaning that one single copy in a parent is enough for this disease to be likely to pass down to children
Tragically, this past September, Greg has fallen to ARVC, and remains in a vegetative state in a long term care facility in Cambridge, Ontario. Temporarily in a state of 'early retirement', I spend each day participating in Greg's care, both physically and also as his advocate for his numerous needs.
It is my goal to start raising ARVC awareness and funding, and I hope to 'soft-launch' my efforts as early as this summer (covid willing) by cycling across Canada.
Ride Details (Updated Aug 5)
While the original plan was to ride along Canada's southern border from Victoria, BC to St. John's, NL, Covid has delayed the ride too much for it to be doable this year, so the ride will be partially completed in 2021 and finished in 2022.
The 2021 ride will take 6.5 weeks, starting in late August, going until mid-October. I'll be riding from St. Johns to the Kitchener-Waterloo area, and I'll be accompanied by a support vehicle.
We'll be staying at the homes of friends/family, couchsurfing, camping at campgrounds, and occasionally staying at hotels/motels as needed.
We'll largely be cooking our own meals, with the occasional use of restaurants.
Ways to help:
1) Donate!
2) Consider joining me for a portion of my ride. You can join me as a cyclist, or as a member of the support team (helping with driving, accommodation setup, event arrangement/organizing etc.) for any duration and location you wish.
3) Consider contributing your talents to the ride. Do you have a skill that could assist us with planning and executing the ride? If so, let me know!
We will try to be as conservative with the costs of this ride as possible. Any additional funding will go to ARVC related initiatives.
Please reach out via this form if you would like to help.
At the end of May, Adam starts pedaling again, this time approximately 6000km from Victoria BC to southern Ontario. Previous donations have gone a long way to secure ferry and lodging fees as well as fuel costs. With increasing fuel prices, every little bit helps to ensure that his support vehicle can join him again this year! Check out the great work being done at www.arvcfamilysupport.org and follow Adam on social media @ride4arvc. Thank you for your generous support!!!
November 2 Update
My family and I would like to express our immense gratitude for the overwhelming support that so many people have shown by contributing to this fund. Because of you, the first part of the ride was a huge success, and the many connections with families across eastern Canada have set the stage for our family support network becoming a powerful resource for people impacted by ARVC.
Stay tuned for details of part 2 of my ride, taking place between May and August 2022 when I pedal from BC back to Ontario. In the meantime, please keep spreading the word by sharing our story!
From the bottom of our hearts, as fragile as they may be,
Adam
Read below to learn our story
------------------------------------------
August 5 Update - We are ready to launch!
Our 3 main goals include:
1) Raising awareness of ARVC for all Canadian families and health care providers,
2) Provide support for families diagnosed with ARVC at our soon-to-be-launched website (www.arvcfamilysupport.org), and
3) Raise funds to help the research and clinical care efforts at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the UHN in Toronto
------------------------------------------
Greetings.
My name is Adam Hoerdt.
Shortly after losing my wife, Jackie, to a sudden cardiac arrest in 2001, I moved to Waterford, Ontario where I have since raised my two boys, Greg and Ben.
Unfortunately, we have since discovered that my late wife, both of our boys, and many other family members are afflicted with ARVC (Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy), an inherited electrical condition of the heart which can result in sudden cardiac arrest. This disease is known for its wrath of taking the lives of young adults without warning during a cardiac arrest. Some additional information regarding ARVC is below:
- ARVC is a disease of the heart wall (myocardium) appearing in early adulthood
- It results in the break-down of the heart wall over time, which leads to an abnormal heartbeat. This makes any moderate to heavy form of exercise very dangerous and causes an increased risk of cardiac arrest at an early age
- While it's prevalence remains uncertain, it is estimated that up to 1 in 1000 people are genetically predisposed to ARVC
- It is autosomal dominant, meaning that one single copy in a parent is enough for this disease to be likely to pass down to children
Tragically, this past September, Greg has fallen to ARVC, and remains in a vegetative state in a long term care facility in Cambridge, Ontario. Temporarily in a state of 'early retirement', I spend each day participating in Greg's care, both physically and also as his advocate for his numerous needs.
It is my goal to start raising ARVC awareness and funding, and I hope to 'soft-launch' my efforts as early as this summer (covid willing) by cycling across Canada.
Ride Details (Updated Aug 5)
While the original plan was to ride along Canada's southern border from Victoria, BC to St. John's, NL, Covid has delayed the ride too much for it to be doable this year, so the ride will be partially completed in 2021 and finished in 2022.
The 2021 ride will take 6.5 weeks, starting in late August, going until mid-October. I'll be riding from St. Johns to the Kitchener-Waterloo area, and I'll be accompanied by a support vehicle.
We'll be staying at the homes of friends/family, couchsurfing, camping at campgrounds, and occasionally staying at hotels/motels as needed.
We'll largely be cooking our own meals, with the occasional use of restaurants.
Ways to help:
1) Donate!
2) Consider joining me for a portion of my ride. You can join me as a cyclist, or as a member of the support team (helping with driving, accommodation setup, event arrangement/organizing etc.) for any duration and location you wish.
3) Consider contributing your talents to the ride. Do you have a skill that could assist us with planning and executing the ride? If so, let me know!
We will try to be as conservative with the costs of this ride as possible. Any additional funding will go to ARVC related initiatives.
Please reach out via this form if you would like to help.
Organizer
Ben Hoerdt
Organizer
Waterford, ON
