Cyclists sought for cross-distric fundraiser

By Heather Latter
Fort Frances Times

The Riverside Foundation for Health Care will be holding its official launch of the “Together We Can” campaign to purchase a new digital mammography unit on Tuesday, Sept. 11 with a bike ride across the district.
And it’s looking for people to sign up to “bike with someone you like” on the four bikes that will be decked out in the colour pink, choosing to ride either five or 10 km.
“We’re very excited to be launching the campaign with such a fun event and we hope everyone will join in,” enthused Tanya Cumming, the campaign’s chair of communications.
She said district residents can sign up to take a turn riding one of the bikes, or just come out to cheer on the cyclists.
“We wanted to do something to bring the district together because together we can do this,” Cumming remarked.
Past fundraising campaigns by the Foundation have included walking and running across the district—and this time it chose to ride.
“Young, old, male, female—almost anyone can ride a bike,” noted Cumming, adding two women’s bikes and two men’s bikes will be used.
She said people can sign up as teams of four or as individuals.
“It can be businesses, families, or organizations—we just want to spread the news of our campaign to let people know what it is and why a new unit is needed,” Cumming explained.
“We want to raise awareness about breast cancer and early detection,” she stressed.
The event will begin with a pancake breakfast at the health centre in Rainy River, stopping in Emo for lunch and then ending with a barbecue at La Verendrye Hospital here in Fort Frances.
The Foundation is working towards the goal of raising $650,000 for the new unit, which is important to Rainy River District residents because the current mammography machine is more than 14 years old and needs replacing.
A digital mammography unit will use a lower dose of radiation and will allow scans to be captured directly onto a computer screen, which can be sent electronically the same day rather than by courier.
“Breast cancer affects everyone—not just women,” Cumming said. “It affects husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons.
“We need this piece of equipment in order to provide the best health care to district residents,” she reasoned.
To register to participate in the bike ride, contact campaign director Nicke Baird at 274-4803.