On March 11, 2023, on his morning cycle, my dad was struck by a vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. He was fully in his lane, in all of the proper gear. And in what I believe was a momentary lapse in judgment and concentration of the driver, the life of my father was taken and the lives of the rest of my family were forever changed. Share the Road Cycling Coalition is a not for profit charitable organization that works in partnership with municipal, provincial and federal governments, the business community, road safety organizations and other non-profits to enhance access for bicyclists on roads and trails, improve safety for all bicyclists, and educate citizens on the value and importance of safe bicycling for healthy lifestyles and healthy communities. Better education surrounding these issues and more funds for proper bike lanes could have prevented the senseless death of a husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and all-around good person in his community, as well as the deaths of many others with loved ones.

My dad worked very hard to be healthy his entire life. From being a top Ontario runner in youth and early adulthood, to maintaining a healthy active lifestyle all the way through a busy career while raising two children, and finally, in retirement, to hiking and cycling all over the world with his wife and best friend, my mom. At the time of his death, he was just shy of his goal of cycling the distance between his hometown, Orillia, and Naples, Florida, his winter residence. And he was booked to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, in the coming fall.

Healthy active living keeps us young, It keeps us focussed on our goals and it keeps us happy. Additionally, prioritizing cyclists on the road helps to lessen our ecological footprint. Automobiles making the conscious and active decision to share the road with cyclists is a cause I firmly believe in and, in that vein, I am training and pushing myself to complete my first half marathon in my dad’s honour. I’d be humbled if you could find it in yourself to give any amount to help this worthy cause.