3 days ago
‘So many deserving kids': Sask. Ride to the Max continues for 11th ride
Isaac had an opportunity to try out one of the bikes with the help of his mom, Jordan. (Hallee Mandryk/CTV News)
A group of motorcyclists continued a decade-long tradition of riding for a good cause on Saturday in Martensville, Sask.
'One of the members of our club, years ago, his little boy had cancer. And so we started it then, and we've just kept it going ever since,' Jenz Wollny, the event organizer, said.
Ride to the Max annually raises funds for families who have a child undergoing cancer treatment. The Jim Pattinson Children's Hospital connects a different family with the organizers each year.
'Whenever anyone wants to pick your own family, it really makes you feel special because there are so many deserving kids out there. So it's all for him. It's really special and fun for our whole family,' said James McCrimmon, father of the selected family, shared.
James and Jordan McCrimmon have spent the last two and a half years in and out of hospital with their son, Isaac, who was diagnosed with leukemia at two years old.
'We're just overwhelmed. We are very excited. We've had a long couple of years, and anytime someone wants to celebrate us or him, we're happy about it. So we're very excited and grateful,' Jordan said.
The funds from this event will help alleviate some of the financial burden that comes with lengthy hospital stays. Isaac is currently admitted at the hospital, but he was able to leave for the day to enjoy the over 50 motorcycles parading for him.
'We do a lot of split family time. He's at the hospital with me or James, and the other person is with the other two kids. So this has given us the ability to be together as a family and not have to work and deal with this at the same time,' Jordan said.
The grand total won't be known for a little while, but Wollny says even after attending this event eleven times, the feeling of presenting the family with the funds is always special.
'Everybody believes it's a really good cause. It's amazing, it really is. Everybody's there, they see the family show up, and just see how happy they are to get a little extra money,' Wollny said.
For the McCrimmons, it's a positive reminder that they have a loving community in their corner during a very difficult time.
'Fundraisers like these have let us be by his side for the last two and a half years without ever leaving. I don't think anyone will ever fully understand how much this actually helps us. It's pretty powerful,' James said.
