Sarnia resident, Wingham native cycling across region to support small town healthcare

Wingham native bikes across Midwestern Ontario to raise money for local hospital equipment. CTV London’s Scott Miller reports.

Brad Burton is about halfway through this Ride the Midwest journey, pedaling his way across Southwestern Ontario.

“Living in Sarnia, being from Wingham, and driving up and down Lake Huron all the time, I just thought, what better way to enjoy rural Ontario, than to be on the bike,” he said.

“And it went from an idea of just essentially being a ride, to putting a purpose to it by supporting the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation. So here we are today.”

Burton will bike more than 500 kilometres over four days, hitting Sarnia, Sauble Beach, Listowel, and ending in Wingham this Sunday. His goal, to raise as much money as he can for the hospital that cared for his father during his final days.

“That’s just the most immediate family. My grandparents moved up to Wingham, and they both used care at the hospital. My aunt and uncle, when they moved into their residence, same idea,” he said.

“They both had to endure a lot of things, and the hospital was always there for them. You hear more and more of how small-town hospitals are having issues with finances, and equipment being outdated. I have personal experiences with it, and then family experiences being in the hospital, friends, obviously. Everybody has been touched by something,” said Burton.

Burton will cover about 125 kilometres each day. During training, the most he biked in one day was 95 kilometres.

“It’s kind of a little bit of that mental kind of the question marks that are in your head that you start to focus on little issues, like your knee or your neck, and that can kind of can play a factor into how you feel,” said Burton.

“Today’s been great, though. Obviously, the sun’s out once again. A little bit of a north wind, would be nice to switch directions, but so far so good.”

He’s raised a little more than $3,000 so far, towards keeping small town healthcare viable in Wingham and area.

“We need those people that are in close proximity to help out, and that’s kind of the driving goal behind this whole thing,” said Burton.

You can learn more about Burton’s Ride the Midwest journey here.