One could say more than $15,000 is a lot of money to be raised for a charity. But for Bruce Fisher, it’s just a couple of bike rides.
The 79-year-old retiree begins his ride to Sarnia on July 30.
He said the seven day, seven-stop trek is in support of the Haliburton Red Wolves Special Olympic Team.
Why does he go on these long bike trips?
“Actually, I don’t even like cycling,” said Fisher. “Since I started, I decided I wasn’t really stuck on it. But I decided it was a good way to raise money for charities and that’s the only reason I ride.”
In 1998, he and his wife Judith retired to Minden and that is when his cycling career started. He’d never cycled professionally or for sport before the move.
Some of the rides he’s completed are from Minden to London, twice to Newfoundland and once from Thunder Bay to Minden.
Over the past 10 years, Fisher has raised $15,868 for the Red Wolves. He’s had to take breaks from his cycling, though.
In 2012, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and Judith said he finally got the all-clear last year.
“He’s survived cancer,” said Judith. “If he wants to ride his bike to Sarnia, he’s going to do it.”
The two of them only worried about his sleeping arrangements for his trip.
Originally, Fisher was going to cycle the seven days with his tent and sleeping supplies on his back, like he did on his second trip to Newfoundland. But he says he was “71 years young” on that trip, so the pair decided he would stay in hotels and bed and breakfasts for this trip.
“I had my concerns when he was camping but my logic for it is that this is his 10th year anniversary that he’s done fundraising and he wants to have one more good bike ride,” said Judith.
The Fishers ask anyone looking to pledge money to Fisher and the Red Wolves to email Judith at judefisher3474@gmail.com for more information.
