GORE BAY—The Gore Bay Rotary Club’s sixth annual Bay to Bay bicycle ride was a true community event!
“This year’s ride is special because it is a community event,” Rotary Club president Peter Carter said prior to the start of the 100 kilometre ride this past Saturday morning. “This year’s event is special because we are tying it into another community event (the second annual Rock the Rings fundraiser) being hosted by the Gore Bay Curling Club this evening.” He pointed out the Gore Bay Rotary Club was established in 1954.
“This year’s ride is being held to raise funds toward the Food Cupboard (at Lyons Memorial United Church in Gore Bay), which is near and dear to our club,” said Mr. Carter. “And equally important, our club has taken on being part of a foreign exchange student program this year. This is an international event,” he said, explaining, “We are sending Cameron Meawasige (from Manitowaning) to Spain where she will be going to high school. Cameron is here today for the ride. And in exchange Ludovica Costa (who hails from Italy) will be hosted for the year at the Nishin Meawasige and Melissa Brandon family home and attending Manitoulin Secondary School.”
“Four of our Rotary members will be welcoming our exchange student from Italy on August 16 after she gets off the plane,” said Mr. Carter. “It is a pretty exciting time for these students, their families and our Rotary Clubs,” he said, noting that the majority of funds raised through the Bay-to-Bay ride will be going toward the cost of the student exchange program.
Mr. Carter explained that the Gore Bay Curling Club was hosting the fundraising fish dinner Saturday evening to raise funds for a new chiller for the ice plant and other renovations, and that many of the Bay-to-Bay riders would be attending the fundraising dinner. He also recognized the sponsors of the ride, Breakaway Sports, Pat Noble Lumber, Manitoulin Transport and Guardian Pharmacy.
The riders, who numbered 30, on the 100-kilometre ride included 11-year-old Rex Meawasige. And while the ride was not a competitive event, the first rider to complete the ride was Barry Wall in a time of four hours 17 minutes.
