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Scott, Mercy and Bishop Turnbull (left) and Finn, Gavin, and Zeph Hammond (right) (Photo: Pure Muskoka)

Gav and Scott raise $51,550 for Enliven with 500km ride

Submitted by Enliven Cancer Care

On Saturday August 7, two amazing individuals headed out onto Muskoka roads to pedal 500km over a 24-hour period. Scott Turnbull and Gavin Hammond decided to challenge themselves with the 500km bike ride after completing a 250km ride last year. The two set big goals for themselves and they realized this was a great opportunity to bring awareness to a local charity and raise funds while completing this outstanding feat.

Mid-day Saturday, Scott and Gav departed from Windermere and headed through Rosseau north to Parry Sound. They then continued northeast through Almaguin Highlands to a much-needed dinner stop in Sundridge. The ride south began with a sunset in Sprucedale, hitting the halfway point of their ride in Huntsville. 

Both Scott and Gav are members of Dads of Muskoka and a few of their fellow “Dads” joined the ride to keep them safe as vehicle escorts through the night. They were met in Baysville for a midnight swim and kit change to freshen up before the long night ride to Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Washago and up through Port Carling to Windermere as they finally completed their ride in 19 hours and 44 minutes.

Scott and Gavin’s drive and commitment to their ride was inspiring to all who followed along with their updates. They went above and beyond with their support for Enliven Cancer Care and, with the help of a few local sponsors including Muskoka Lumber, Cayman Marshall Realty, Pride Marine Group, and Nielsen’s Bicycles, they raised $51,550.

“Grateful, overwhelmed and more than a little delirious after this epic adventure,” said Turnbull. “When Gavin and I decided that we should top our previous long distance by doing a 500km ride this summer, we never thought that it could turn into this tsunami of support for the amazing people at Enliven Cancer Care. The ride itself was a challenge, but nowhere near the challenges that people and their families face every day with a cancer diagnosis. We’re beyond thrilled to have put so many eyes on this great organization and to have been the start of such an outpouring of community support. These donations are just a small fraction of what Enliven Cancer Care can use to help make people’s lives better during the toughest of times.”

Hammond added that they “did this for Enliven because we believe in what they do. We did this for our community because we believe that organizations like this keep communities strong. We did this to honour those close to us that were taken by this horrible disease that meant the world to us. What we didn’t see coming was the outpouring of support that we would have. After all, we were just riding bikes. Blown away and still in disbelief after a $1,000 goal turned into $50,500. This Muskoka – this we never thought possible but the incredible support of this community never ceases to amaze. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Enliven Cancer Care “has been blown away by the overwhelming support we have received on behalf of Scott and Gav,” said board member, Cat Brown. “Their fundraising efforts have left us in shock and awe at the amazing support they have provided for us. As a small not-for-profit, we rely on community donations and grants to offer our services and this event has raised more for us than we ever could have imagined. The awareness of Enliven’s services has been growing slowly over the past five years and this was the first time community members have taken it upon themselves to fundraise and raise awareness for us.

“We can’t thank Scott and Gav enough for their generosity and for choosing to support us. Thank you, Scott! Thank you, Gavin! You are amazing people and you have done more than you can imagine in helping a small local charity provide much-needed programs and increase awareness for the members of our community that most need our support.”

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