1$ = 1km = 1meal for homeless youth
Update: THANK YOU so much to everyone who has donated, joined me for a ride, or collected food items. It's trully appreciated!
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This holiday, you can help give a heart-warming meal and offer hope to homeless children and youth.
It’s almost that time of year again: Christmas lights, warm houses, family gatherings, large delicious dinners, and wonderful gifts. For most of us. But it’s also the time of year when the need for food for the less fortunate becomes even greater. For thousands of people and children.
To help and to give back, this holiday season TAXI Canada is collecting food items that will go straight to those in need with the help of the Covenant House Toronto, Canada’s largest agency providing safe shelter, food, clothes, medical care and opportunities for kids to change their lives.
To help and to give back myself, and to also motivate myself to keep fighting to get my health back, I’ve set up this page.
For the next two weeks, Dec 3 – Dec 15, for every dollar raised I commit to cycling 1 km. Indoor or outdoor, rain, snow, headwind (oh dear!), no excuses. My goal, $500 = 500 km.
1 $ = 1 km = 1 meal for the homeless youth
I currently ride ~100km/week, so this will definitely be a challenge, but completely worth it for such a great cause. Then at the end of these two weeks, I’ll be posting a photo with all the food items I was able to get with the monetary donations - the exciting part!
Please give ANY amount you can. As little as $1 can provide 1 meal, so no amount is too little! Your donation can change someone’s day or even life.
THANK YOU for your consideration!
Daily updates
www.instagram.com/antoniavgoga/
Follow my rides
Follow me on Strava to see if I ride or if I slack at
www.strava.com/athletes/antoniavgoga/
Thank you
A HUGE thank you to Justin Morris for giving me the honour to feature his stunning street photography to promote my cause.
www.instagram.com/jmorrisphotographer/
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Ride with me and let's raise awareness together
In order to create more awareness and to spend some time with people before the holidays, I would love to complete this challenge while riding with a friend or a group of friends every day. You don't have to be a pro cyclist; whether you want to go for a long ride outside, a casual short ride to a coffee shop, a virtual ride on Zwift, or even a spinning class, let's ride together! Just email me at [email redacted] to coordinate a ride.
Thank you so much to everyone who has joined me for a ride so far! I am truly grateful to know so many wonderful people.
Thank you, Igor.
Thank you, Zana.
Thank you, Roger.
Thank you, Jay.
Thank you, Mike and Scott.
Thank you, TJ.
Thank you, Tom.
Thank you, Mike.
Thank you, James.
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Ride with us
My friend Lin Oosterhoff, an incredible woman, has joined me in my cause. She is riding and raising awareness in Calgary, Alberta. Thank you so much, Lin! I can't put into words how grateful I am.
Daily updates:
www.instagram.com/lin.oosterhoff/ 
Day 13 and Lin completed riding 500 km. Inspiring!
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Joining forces
Joining forces with amazing, inspiring and kind people. Calling out all design studios, boutiques, agencies, everyone! Join us in our cause! Just raise your hand and I will personally come to your office and drop a box that you and your team can start filling up with food items that will go straight to homeless children with the help of the Covenant House.
Thank you, Wunderman | Blast Radius.
Thank you, q30 design.
Thank you, Moveable Inc.
Thank you, Moveable Inc.
Thank you, Critical Mass.
Thank you, Applied Arts.
Thank you, Flash Reproductions.
Thank you, RGD.
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Calling all cyclists
Cyclists everywhere, help us raise awareness by using the hashtag #1dollar1km1meal on your rides and cycling pictures. Let's show the world what the cycling community can achieve together.
Thank you to all the bike stores who have hanged posters in their places to help us raise awareness!
Thank you, Wheels of Bloor.
Thank you, Wheels of Bloor.
Thank you, Bike Depot.
Thank you, Brockton Cyclery.
Thank you, Cycle Motive. 
Thank you, Duke’s Cycle. 
Thank you, Ride Away Bikes.
Thank you, Via Ciclante.
Thank you, Sweet Hart Kitchen.
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Giving back
I feel grateful I have a warm bed and a warm house every day. Others are not so fortunate. Even though we’re all equal. All people.
Last night was... humbling... challenging... eye-opening... real. One of the hardest things I ever did. I packed warm blankets, sweet chocolate and gift cards for warm meals, and headed downtown on the streets of Toronto, with the hope to meet some wonderful people who wanted to talk to me and share their stories. My intent was to show to the public how easy it is to give back, how little it takes to help, how you on your own can make a difference, even a little one. Some of the people I met were happy to talk to me and they were grateful, while others wanted nothing to do with me. I felt ... sad, happy, angry, discouraged, motivated, determined and inspired at the same time. And I hope their stories will make you feel the same.
This is about the people I met last night. I feel grateful to each and every one of them for opening up and talking to me. They are just a few of the people who are out there, trying to survive from day to day, trying to not be invisible, trying to live just like the rest of us.
This is Sean. He is a carpenter. He used to build fences and decks, until he recently got laid off because it’s now too cold to continue building. He was open to talking to me. He was humble, grateful, but you could tell this was not the life he chose for him, and he asked me not to take a picture of his face. Talking to him made me realize how lucky I am... and how we can all just lose what we have in a split second. Stop for a second and be grateful today. - Sean, thank you, I wish you all the best and luck getting back on your feet. It was an honour talking to you.
This is Chas. Short for Charlie, after his father and grandfather. I met Chas inside at a subway entrance. He was laying on the cold cement, trying to warm up and rest for a bit. I approached him and started telling him about the campaign I was doing. He started laughing telling me he had no money to donate, but he wished he did. Then I continued to tell him I wasn’t there to ask for any money, but to just talk to him. He got up, made himself comfortable on his old sleeping bag, and with the biggest smile on his face, started sharing his wisdom with me, but the only message he wanted me to share with the public was: “It’s Christmas time now. One for all and all for one.” He then asked me to take this picture of him, saying that people who know him will understand. - Thank you, Chas, it was truly an honour.
This is “Bob”. I saw Bob laying on the sidewalk at a busy intersection with all his belongings surrounding him. It was cold, windy, dozens of cars passing by him fast, and even more people passing by him with their shopping bags full, without even looking at him. I approached him and asked if I could talk to him for a couple of minutes. He was kind, but talking to him felt like he had lost all hope. He thanked me and asked me to just leave the blanket and gifts beside his other belongings. He was grateful, but he seemed tired. He gave me his real name, but asked me to call him “Bob”. Then he told me to just take a picture showing his face, as he wanted people to SEE. His message, broke my heart: “Be nice to us. Don’t call us names. We are all the same. We just want to live.” - THANK YOU, Bob.
Jessica and Scotty. The last wonderful people I met yesterday. It was getting late and cold walking around the streets. Then on a busy sidewalk in front of an abandoned shop, I see this person on her knees, with a piece of cardboard in her hand, scraping the snow off the sidewalk and away from this “fort” made out of boxes and surrounded by different belongings. I approach her, lean down, and say hi. She comes up and, smiling, she says: “What’s up?”. I tell her about the campaign I’m doing, and she thanks me. She tells me she’s been on the streets for 9 years now... and that she got kicked out when she was 18. Her and Scotty, her partner, had been “living” in that fort for the past 2 years. My heart sunk. She was younger than me. I could have been her. I gave them two packages so they could get a warm meal together, and she was so humble. She then asked me not to take a picture of her face, and instead showed me her arm to take a picture of her awesome duck tattoo. Her message that she wanted me to share: “It’s not easy. Please be understanding.” - Jessica, you rock and I wish you all the luck in this world! THANK YOU!
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Let's keep the wheels spinning!
Consider donating, collecting non-perishable food items, or riding with us.
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This has been one of the most incredible, learning and humbling experiences I’ve ever been a part of. There have been so many wonderful moments that it’s hard to name them all. Smiles, laughter, tears, joy, sadness, feelings of defeat and self-doubt, determination and accomplishments. Meeting so many wonderful and kind people, riding with friends and folks I’ve looked up to, the support, the generosity, the kind words... it’s all been so overwhelming and I can’t put into words how thankful I am to every one of you for everything you’ve done. I feel blessed to have you all in my life. I’m forever grateful. Thank you for believing with me and believing in me. Thank you for being part of this beautiful experience with me. Thank you!
At Covenant House.
The donations from the GoFundMe page went towards purchasing 56 x $25 Metro grocery gift cards, and Metro kindly donated 2 extra ones. These gift cards will be used to have access to fresh food (vegetables, fruit, meat, dairy, etc.) and for Covenant’s House program to teach the youth life skills when grocery shopping, such as budgeting, healthy foods, meal planning. THANK YOU again to everyone for their support, help and donations!! It’s greatly appreciated and it will make a huge difference in someone’s life.
Everything the team at TAXI and #1dollar1km1meal collected for the Covenant House, to help homeless youth find their independence. I’m absolutely blown away and I feel blessed and grateful to know so many kind and generous people.
THANK YOU again to everyone for all the support!
#1dollar1km1meal #helpinghomelessyouth #thankyou #happyholidays #givingback #covenanthouseto @covenanthouseto @taxiagency #taxiagency #whyiride
