Cycling to Save Lives – Local Resident Kicks off Bike Ride to Montreal to Raise Funds for Southlake’s COVID-19 Response

Local East Gwillimbury resident, Tim Brochu, set out on Sunday, July 26^th to complete a long and noble mission – cycling from Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ontario all the way to Pointe Claire, Quebec.

Tim’s goal is to raise $30,000 in support of Southlake and Lakeshore General Hospital, his family’s community hospital prior to their move to York Region. The Brochu family hopes to rally communities along the way to donate towards the most urgent priorities at both hospitals. The 600 kilometre journey will take roughly seven days, with his wife and two daughters following along behind him in a specially outfitted camper van.

“During this pandemic, we’re seeing more than ever how much our hospitals depend on community support,” said cyclist Tim Brochu. “I’m looking forward to a great ride, and hoping to get even more people excited and supporting me as I go to help me reach my fundraising goal.”

On a typical day, Tim rides about 60 km. It was on one of these rides with his family when the idea came to him, sparked during COVID-19 as a desire to do whatever he could to help. With nieces who work as ICU nurses in Quebec, Tim was hearing their first hand accounts of the daily struggles and concerns around medical supplies and personal protective equipment. For them, and for those who were fighting COVID-19 at Southlake – the hospital he and his family depend on for care – Tim decided to take action, with a goal to support as many resources as he could to help those on the front lines of health care get through this pandemic and beyond.

“None of us were surprised when he told us what he was planning. He’s a big community guy,” said Tim’s daughter, Vyktoria Brochu of her father, who has been awarded for his volunteer commitment  with the Aurora Rugby Club and has donated platelets at SickKids every two weeks for years. “His attitude is that he’s a healthy 53-year-old, so why not? He’s a pretty cool guy.”

Follow Southlake Foundation on Facebook (@SouthlakeFoundation) for updates on Tim’s journey from throughout the week of July 26^th to August 1^st.