They’re almost at their destination, and it’s been a long journey.
Toronto hip-hop artists Side Pony Nation (Lynn Moffatt and Tanya Casole-Gouveia) and North Pole footrace-winner Ryan Malfara have been with their bikes for 11 days and almost 2,000 kilometers.
They say they've learned an important lesson.
“You can't prepare for everything, but you can be prepared for the unexpected,” says Moffatt.
The three friends started their trip in Rainy River, ON Sept. 18, and made their way through Barrie today. They’ll finish tonight in Toronto having completed 1,896 demanding kilometers – fuelled by the enthusiasm of those they met along the way.
“My short term goal is to raise $25,000 for Right to Play,” says Malfara.
Right to Play is a global organization with a mission to use sport and play to educate and empower young people to overcome poverty, conflict, and disease in disadvantaged communities. When Casole-Gouveia was a doing her university co-op program she witnessed first-hand the positive impact fitness can have on youth.
“It does lead to the development of social skills, team-work – how to deal with success and how to deal with rejection,” she says.
They call their journey "Always Yonge"---in honour of the world’s longest street that they've travelled on in a journey that has been full of bumps and bruises and has been extremely physically demanding.
“I didn't anticipate being on 200-kilometre days back to back,” Moffatt says.
And Malfara adds, “I pulled my Achilles tendon and I've blown both knees.”
The fourth member of their team didn't cycle with them, but Casole-Gouveia’s mother Tess followed them on social media the entire time – and she says the word proud only begins to describe how she feels.
“They have very full lives and they've taken 12 days and put it aside to help others. For that I'm impressed and inspired,” says Tess Buchanan.
In a promo video for the 1,896-kilometre Always Yonge ride, Moffatt said, “We’re adventure enthusiasts. We love to promote fun and well-being, and we love to ride our bicycles.”
“This will be a huge challenge for us,” said Casole-Gouveia. “But one we are totally up for because it’s for such a great cause.”