Bob Moore of Killarney, Manitoba put the petal to the metal this summer raising an impressive $8,500 for two Manitoba youth seeking specialized equipment to enhance their quality of life.
Starting in 1968, Bob has been an avid cyclist and philanthropist, consistently biking 10 km a day to prepare for the marathon he does every summer to support local charities.
“I first started riding in 1968, and about 15 years ago began riding for a purpose,” Bob shares. “When my daughter Jill, who works at the SSCY Centre, told me how [Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation] needed support to give children adapted bikes, I knew I wanted to share my love of biking with those who needed some more help to reach their biking goals.”
Adaptive bikes can be costly ranging from $2,500-$6,000 based on each user’s specific needs. Despite the hefty price, it is all worth it in the eyes of Bicycle Bob.
“It’s incredible to see a kid get on a bike for the first time. It’s what drives me to keep going,” explains Bob. “What’s special is, if the parent allows it, I will go riding with the bike recipient in the springtime. I have done that in the past with two other youth I funded bikes for and have made plans to do it again this spring with Blake.”
In addition to the bike, Bob challenged himself by fundraising for an additional communication iPad for eight-year-old Scarlett.
“This is my first year bike riding to give someone a communication iPad,” says Bob. “Earlier in the year I met a young boy with no verbal communication ability. So, I told Jill, ‘You need to get this boy an iPad.’ I was so surprised to hear over 200 youth are waiting for a communication device. So, I decided to add that as a part of my fundraiser.”
This summer, Bob rode 79 KM to match his age and campaigned in his local area to bring awareness to his cause.
“My wife Sue and I went camping in a nearby town called Crystal City and walked around the campsites to collect donations,” shared Bob. “We also asked our friends in Killarney to pitch in and are really thankful to raise enough money to fund these pieces of equipment.”
Looking ahead, Bob plans to ride 80 kilometers next summer to continue helping youth in his community. Stay tuned to learn how you can support Bob’s next fundraiser!
Are you inspired by Bob’s passion? You can host or undertake your own community fundraiser in support of Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation. Visit https://crf.mb.ca/events/#community-events for more details.