CHEO’s 18th annual cycling event raises over $2 million for pediatric oncology care

Thousands of residents strapped on their helmets to participate in the 18th annual CN Cycle for CHEO Sunday morning. CTV’s Joshua Marano reports.

The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario’s (CHEO) largest cycling event raised more than $2 million for pediatric oncology care and research Sunday.

About 6,500 participants took part in the 18th annual event, raising $2,018,294 million, slightly above CHEO’s initial target amount of $2 million.

“We set such a high goal because we know that our community has supported us so well in the past. And here they are again on a beautiful day like this, supporting us and the work that we do at CHEO and CHEO Research Institute,” said Steve Read, CHEO Foundation president and CEO.

All routes for the event began and ended at the Canadian War Museum, taking cyclists and walkers along some of the most beautiful routes in the capital’s region. It included cycling routes, walking routes along the Ottawa River and activities and entertainment for kids of all ages.

It also included a 100K circuit for the first time this year.

“We introduced the century ride this year, 100K, ride up through the Gatineau Hills. So, first time we’ve gone inter-provincial. We capped the registration at 500 and sold out almost immediately,” added Read.

“So, we had the first time for 500 cyclists to enjoy the beautiful Gatineau Hills. We worked very hard with our safety agencies on both sides of the border to make sure that everybody was safe, and we’ve had about 6,000 other riders, aside from those 500 helping us out and various other routes.”

CHEO’s three ambassadors this year are 16-year-old Charlie Cloutier, five-year-old Easton Adams and eight-year-old Ibrahim Dahnoun, representing CHEO cancer patients and forming the McDonald’s Dream Team.

“These young ambassadors and their families know first-hand what the patients at CHEO are going through. Their commitment of time, energy and enthusiasm inspires us all to support the crucial work devoted to ending pediatric cancer. The courage these young people bring to this event makes us so proud to present them to you,” says CHEO on its website.

CN Cycle for CHEO is a partnership between CN and the CHEO Foundation, aiming to help oncology patients in the region and around the world.

“We are very proud to have been a part of the CHEO journey for 18 years, and to announce a renewal of the partnership for an additional three years. The CN Cycle for CHEO is an event that means so much to everyone at CN,” said Melissa Cotton, head of government affairs Canada for CN.

In 2024, CN Cycle for CHEO raised a record $2.175 million, where more than 7,000 participants showed up for the 17th annual event, despite the rain in Ottawa.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Josh Marano